Asia recorded the largest worldwide wind energy production in 2021, at nearly 748 terawatt-hours. This was followed by Europe, where the output of wind energy surpassed 469 terawatt-hours. Meanwhile, North America generated over 438 terawatt-hours worth of wind energy in 2021. In recent years, wind energy accounted for over seven percent of the electricity generated globally.
The world leader in wind energy
Accounting for over one third of the wind energy generation across the globe, Asia positions itself as the largest producer worldwide. In particular, China is the main producer and consumer of wind energy both in Asia and globally. With a cumulative installed capacity of 328.5 gigawatts, the East Asian country is now planning to build the world’s biggest wind farm known to date. With construction forecast to begin before 2025, the new facility in the Taiwan Strait will debunk the current largest wind power plant – the Jiuquan Wind Power Base, also in China.
Wind power in the Net Zero scenario
Wind power capacity additions recorded unprecedented high figures in recent years. With a newly installed capacity of 93.6 gigawatts, the global cumulative capacity of wind power surpassed 800 gigawatts in 2021. Nevertheless, in order to meet the Net Zero Emissions target by 2050, capacity installations are required to increase to an average of 250 gigawatts annually. This is more than double the figure recorded in 2021.
Wind energy production worldwide in 2021, by region
(in terawatt-hours)
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IRENA. (July 12, 2023). Wind energy production worldwide in 2021, by region (in terawatt-hours) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 03, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1031159/wind-energy-production-globally-by-region/
IRENA. "Wind energy production worldwide in 2021, by region (in terawatt-hours)." Chart. July 12, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1031159/wind-energy-production-globally-by-region/
IRENA. (2023). Wind energy production worldwide in 2021, by region (in terawatt-hours). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1031159/wind-energy-production-globally-by-region/
IRENA. "Wind Energy Production Worldwide in 2021, by Region (in Terawatt-hours)." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Jul 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1031159/wind-energy-production-globally-by-region/
IRENA, Wind energy production worldwide in 2021, by region (in terawatt-hours) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1031159/wind-energy-production-globally-by-region/ (last visited July 03, 2024)
Wind energy production worldwide in 2021, by region (in terawatt-hours) [Graph], IRENA, July 12, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1031159/wind-energy-production-globally-by-region/