Global cumulative installed capacity of wind power 2023, by country
China is by far the largest installer of wind power in the world, more than doubling the second-ranked United States. As of end of 2023, China had cumulatively installed over 464 gigawatts of wind energy, in comparison to 150 gigawatts of wind energy installed in the United States. Worldwide, the cumulative capacity of wind energy reached over one terawatt in 2023.
Wind energy production worldwide
Electricity can be generated by harnessing the kinetic energy created by air in motion. Wind hits the blades, rotating the turbines that are connected to a generator, and shifts kinetic energy to rotational energy and eventually to electricity. This electricity is then transformed to meet the grid’s voltage levels. The amount of power that can be generated from wind turbines generally depends on the size of the turbines and length of the blades, as well as wind speeds. Over the years, wind energy technologies have developed to accommodate much higher power ratings, and wind turbines have significantly grown in size.
Offshore wind
Offshore wind power refers to wind farms that stand within bodies of water, often in the ocean. Offshore wind speeds tend to be faster than on land and tend to be steadier, thus presenting a higher generation potential as well as a more reliable energy source. However, offshore wind farms tend to be more expensive to build and maintain than onshore wind farms due to the difficulties of building robust turbines to withstand heavy winds and in deep ocean waters.