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GLOBAL REVIEW 2008
India added 1,800 mw of new wind power capacity in 2008, according to a global review by Washington-based Worldwatch Institute. With this achievement, India ranked third after USA and China. However, its world rank in terms of outstanding wind power capacity as of 2008-end fell to fifth, losing out to China that is aggressively capturing an increasing share of new global wind power capacity.

Globally, 27,051 mw of wind capacity was added in 2008, up around 29 per cent from 2007. The cumulative global capacity breached the 100 gw mark by end of 2008, touching 120,798 mw. The US added 8,358 mw of new capacity accounting for 31 per cent of worldwide additions. As of 2008-end, its total capacity stood at 25,170 mw representing over a fifth of the world total. USA supplanted Germany to emerge as the world's biggest wind energy nation-at least in terms of installed capacity as of 2008-end.

China has been growing furiously in its renewable energy ambitions. In 2008, this galloping Asian economy installed 6,300 mw of new wind power capacity that was more than what the country had added up to 2007-end. With 12,200 mw of capacity as of 2008-end, China upstaged India to earn the fourth rank after USA (25,170 mw), Germany (23,902 mw) and Spain (16,740 mw). India with an outstanding total of 9,645 mw came fifth.

Industry experts feel that China's aggression in adding wind capacity-a counterbalance to widespread installation of coal-based power capacity-is unlikely to abate in the coming years.  Chinese Renewable Energy Industry Association has projected that the country's wind capacity will cross 50,000 mw by 2015. This incidentally is more than India's assessed gross wind power potential of 45,000 mw. China's target of attaining 10,000 mw by 2010-end was achieved a clean two years earlier, more than exemplifying its seriousness in pursuing renewable energy objectives.

Germany and Spain added 1,665 mw and 1,609 mw of wind power capacity respectively in 2008-both falling short of India's achievement. However, in Spain at least, the current focus appears to be on solar power generation and over the next few years, its precedence over wind energy would continue. In Germany, wind power currently accounts for 7.5  per cent of the country's energy demand, and this metric is projected to rise to 31 per cent by 2030.  European nations continued to dominate the world scene with a combined capacity of 65,946 mw, or 55 per cent of the world total as of 2008 end.}

 

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