Record year for wind power in Ontario as global capacity rises

Installed wind energy as of December, 2011; chart from Global Wind Energy Council.

The amount of wind power installed throughout the world in 2011 increased by 21 per cent, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. Over 41,000 MW of wind power was installed that year. Approximately 75 countries now have commercial wind power installations, 22 of them producing more than 1 gigawatt of electricity.

China is the global leader, with more than 62,000 MW installed, and is expected to continue to dominate. India is also pushing ahead, adding 3,000 MW in 2011 for a total of 16,000.

Despite ongoing economic problems, the EU continues to install new capacity as well, adding close to 10,000 MW last year for a total of 93,957 MW. This is enough to supply 6.3 per cent of the EU’s electricity, according to the European Wind Energy Association.

In North America, the United States is on track for providing 20 per cent of its electricity from wind power by the year 2030, a target set in the Bush Administration. And in Canada, last year was a record one. Canada’s installed wind energy capacity grew more than 30 per cent in 2011 and now exceeds 5,000 MW, with most of the activity in Ontario. Canada is now ninth in the world in wind power production.