In 2008, U.S. wind power generation capacity exceeded the 25 GW mark by adding more than 8 GW from the year before, representing the largest individual gain of any country in the world. This growth rate of 50% surpassed that of the year before, indicating that the market is still relatively young and has room to grow, despite the economic downturn. The market for wind turbines will continue to grow through 2015 driven by new generation additions as well as replacements of smaller, older turbines with new, larger, more efficient turbines. In 2007, generation capacity from renewable sources made up only 4% of the world’s electricity sources, but 16% of new electricity generation capacity additions were from renewables with wind power making up more than 80% of these gains by renewables.
Source: Pike Research
