A new report from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) expects that wind power installations will nearly double over the next five years, led by China.
Globally cumulative wind capacity is anticipated to increase to approximately 792GW in 2020 from nearly 433GW in 2015.
The report said China has installed 145GW of wind energy capacity and surpassed the European Union in wind installations in 2015.
The Global Wind Report: Annual Market update says wind power industry set new records globally in 2015, and it is leading the transformation of the global power system to achieve the climate objectives agreed by 186 nations in Paris last December.
GWEC Secretary General Steve Sawyer said:"The Paris Agreement requires a fully decarbonized power system by 2050 if not before, if we are keeping temperatures below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. We have to turn things around very quickly."
China has installed no less than 30.8 GW of new capacity in 2015, more than the whole industry installed in 2008. Last year, total annual capacity installation stood at 63GW.
The report noted that both Europe and the US markets performed better than anticipated, and the European offshore sector set a new record, installing just more than 3GW. Canada, Mexico and Brazil all had strong years.
According to the report, new markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America are also emerging which will be sources of growth over the next decade.
Sawyer said: "Wind power is now mainstream, supplying competitive, reliable and clean energy to fuel economic growth, and to cut emissions in established economies, while at the same time creating new jobs, new industries, and enhancing energy security."
Image: Wind power led all technologies in new power generation in 2015. Photo: Courtesy of pakorn/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net.