While governments debate and industries transform, a staggering 837 GW of wind turbines are now spinning worldwide, harnessing the wind to power our future and rewrite our energy story.
Key Takeaways
- Global cumulative wind power capacity reached 837 GW by the end of 2022, with onshore installations accounting for 93% and offshore for 7%.
- In 2022, China added 37.2 GW of new wind capacity, representing 48% of global additions.
- The United States had 141 GW of installed wind capacity at the end of 2022, ranking second globally.
- Worldwide wind power generated 2,100 TWh in 2022, up 9% from 2021.
- Onshore wind produced 1,886 TWh globally in 2022.
- Offshore wind generation reached 191 TWh in 2022, a 25% increase.
- Onshore wind LCOE averaged 3.5 cents/kWh globally in 2022.
- Offshore wind LCOE fell to 7.9 cents/kWh in 2022 from 13 cents in 2019.
- US levelized cost of new wind was $40/MWh in 2022.
- Wind reduced CO2 emissions by 1.1 Gt globally in 2022.
- Onshore wind avoided 781 MtCO2 in 2022 equivalent.
- Offshore wind displaced 130 MtCO2 emissions in 2022.
- Global policy support via 150 countries with wind targets.
- US Inflation Reduction Act boosts wind PTC to $27/MWh base 2023.
- EU REPowerEU targets 510 GW wind by 2030.
Wind energy is growing rapidly worldwide and is providing clean electricity.
Costs and Economics
- Onshore wind LCOE averaged 3.5 cents/kWh globally in 2022.
- Offshore wind LCOE fell to 7.9 cents/kWh in 2022 from 13 cents in 2019.
- US levelized cost of new wind was $40/MWh in 2022.
- Wind turbine capital costs dropped 20% globally 2018-2022 to $1,200/kW onshore.
- Operation and maintenance costs for onshore wind averaged $30/kW-year in 2022.
- Global wind industry investment reached $180 billion in 2022.
- Wind created 1.25 million jobs worldwide in 2022.
- US wind projects generated $10 billion in local tax revenues 2022.
- Cost of offshore wind installation fell 15% to $2,800/kW in 2022.
- PPA prices for US onshore wind averaged $25/MWh in 2023 Q1.
- Wind farm development costs $1.5-2.5 million per MW onshore.
- Global wind supply chain value added $150 billion in 2022.
- Balance of plant costs for wind 25% of total CAPEX onshore.
- Wind energy avoided $50 billion fossil fuel costs in US 2022.
- Turbine prices averaged $800/kW for 3-4 MW onshore models 2023.
- Financing costs for wind projects 10-12% of LCOE globally.
- UK offshore wind contracts for difference struck at £41.61/MWh in 2023.
- Wind O&M costs declined 25% per decade since 2010.
- Global wind manufacturing capacity exceeded 200 GW annually by 2023.
- Land lease costs for US wind farms $5,000-10,000/MW-year.
- Wind energy ROI averaged 10-15% for investors 2022.
- Subsidies for wind globally totaled $60 billion in 2022.
- Capacity auctions cleared wind at $30/MW average in Latin America 2023.
- Insurance costs for offshore wind 1-2% of CAPEX annually.
- Wind avoided $12/MWh in system costs vs fossil alternatives 2022.
- Global wind capex forecast $1.9 trillion 2023-2030.
- US wind jobs paid average $55,000 salary in 2022.
- Decommissioning costs for wind turbines $100,000-200,000 per MW.
- Wind energy saved EU €50 billion in fuel imports 2022.
- Wind turbines last 25-30 years, with 80% energy payback in 6 months.
Costs and Economics Interpretation
The wind industry has become a remarkably cheap economic engine, turning breezes into billions in savings, jobs, and revenue while its costs plummet faster than a pessimist's expectations.
Energy Production
- Worldwide wind power generated 2,100 TWh in 2022, up 9% from 2021.
- Onshore wind produced 1,886 TWh globally in 2022.
- Offshore wind generation reached 191 TWh in 2022, a 25% increase.
- US wind farms generated 434 TWh in 2022, 10.3% of total electricity.
- China's wind generation hit 762 TWh in 2022, 8.5% of national supply.
- Germany produced 140 TWh from wind in 2022, 27% of electricity.
- UK wind output was 79 TWh in 2022, 25.7% of generation.
- Spain's wind generation totaled 62 TWh in 2022, 24% of mix.
- Brazil wind produced 36 TWh in 2022 from 23 GW capacity.
- India's wind output reached 82 TWh in FY2022-23.
- Average capacity factor for US wind was 35.9% in 2022.
- Global offshore wind capacity factor averaged 43% in 2022.
- Denmark wind generated 52% of electricity in 2022, 15.4 TWh.
- Texas wind output was 125 TWh in 2022, 23% of state generation.
- Europe wind generation hit 500 TWh in 2023.
- Global wind expected to produce 6,400 TWh annually by 2030.
- Australia wind generated 24 TWh in 2022 from 9.7 GW.
- Vietnam wind output grew to 8 TWh in 2023.
- UK offshore wind alone produced 52 TWh in 2023.
- Global wind share in electricity was 7.4% in 2022.
- Iowa wind capacity factor averaged 40.1% in 2022.
- Floating wind prototypes generated 50 GWh in 2022-2023.
- China curtailment of wind energy dropped to 2.4% in 2022 from 3% prior.
- Global wind turbine output per MW installed averaged 2.5 GWh in 2022.
- Netherlands wind generation was 28 TWh in 2022, 18% of total.
- South Korea wind output reached 3.5 TWh in 2023.
- US wind generation forecast 450 TWh for 2023.
- Portugal wind produced 13 TWh in 2022, 27% share.
- Global wind production grew at 12% CAGR 2017-2022.
- Ireland wind generated 25% of electricity, 12 TWh in 2022.
Energy Production Interpretation
The upstart wind industry is no longer just whispering in the energy market's ear but shouting from growing rooftops and stormy seas, with Denmark already letting it pay half the national electric bill.
Environmental Impact
- Wind reduced CO2 emissions by 1.1 Gt globally in 2022.
- Onshore wind avoided 781 MtCO2 in 2022 equivalent.
- Offshore wind displaced 130 MtCO2 emissions in 2022.
- US wind prevented 300 MtCO2 in 2022, like removing 65 million cars.
- Global wind saved 1.5 billion tons CO2 since 2000 cumulatively.
- Wind power reduced SO2 emissions by 1.2 Mt in China 2022.
- Bird mortality from wind turbines 0.0003 deaths per GWh, vs cats 500x more.
- Wind farms use 1% land for infrastructure, rest for agriculture.
- Recycling rate for wind blades targeted 95% by 2040 via new composites.
- Wind energy water use <1 L/MWh vs coal 2,000 L/MWh.
- EU wind cut NOx emissions by 200,000 tons in 2022.
- Lifetime carbon footprint of wind 11 gCO2/kWh vs gas 490.
- Wind repowering extends life, cuts new material use 50%.
- Bat mitigation reduces fatalities 50-70% with curtailment.
- Global wind avoided 5.5 EJ fossil fuels in 2022.
- Offshore wind enhances marine biodiversity in 60% cases.
- Wind farms reduce dust pollution 20-30% locally.
- Cumulative wind recycling 85% metals, 50% composites by 2023.
- Wind saved 1 billion m3 water in US power sector 2022.
- Shadow flicker from turbines affects <0.01% land area.
- Wind noise at 300m distance 35-45 dB, below ambient.
- Global wind land footprint 0.3 m2 per MWh generated.
- Turbine foundations recyclable 100%, concrete 90%.
- Wind reduced mercury emissions 10 tons in EU 2022.
- Floating wind minimizes seabed disruption vs fixed.
- Wind energy GHG payback 6-12 months operation.
- US wind avoided 1.5 billion barrels oil equivalent 2022.
- Rare earth use in generators <1% total mining impact.
- Wind farms boost local microclimates positively for crops.
Environmental Impact Interpretation
While painting an undeniably heroic portrait of our atmospheric rescue, these statistics also thoughtfully address the side-angles, revealing wind energy not as a flawless protagonist, but as a remarkably diligent and constantly improving one, quietly displacing mountains of pollution with minimal land, water, and wildlife impact.
Installation and Capacity
- Global cumulative wind power capacity reached 837 GW by the end of 2022, with onshore installations accounting for 93% and offshore for 7%.
- In 2022, China added 37.2 GW of new wind capacity, representing 48% of global additions.
- The United States had 141 GW of installed wind capacity at the end of 2022, ranking second globally.
- Europe installed 16.8 GW of new wind capacity in 2022, with Germany leading at 5 GW.
- India's wind capacity reached 42 GW by end-2022, with 2.9 GW added that year.
- Brazil added 3.2 GW of wind capacity in 2022, totaling 23 GW installed.
- Offshore wind capacity globally hit 57.7 GW by end-2022, up 26% from 2021.
- UK offshore wind capacity stood at 13.9 GW in 2022, with 1.3 GW added.
- By 2023, global wind capacity exceeded 900 GW, with 117 GW added in 2023 alone.
- Texas led US states with 40.8 GW wind capacity in 2023.
- Denmark achieved 58% wind penetration in electricity in 2022, with 15 GW capacity.
- Vietnam installed 4.5 GW wind by 2023, mostly onshore.
- Australia reached 10.3 GW wind capacity by end-2023.
- Morocco added 1.8 GW wind in 2022-2023, totaling 2.4 GW.
- Turkey's wind capacity grew to 11.8 GW by 2023.
- Global wind turbine installations numbered over 350,000 units by 2022.
- Average onshore turbine hub height increased to 105m in 2022 from 90m in 2018.
- Offshore turbines averaged 12 MW rated power per unit in 2023 projects.
- US Midwest region holds 50% of national wind capacity at 70 GW in 2023.
- Spain had 29.8 GW wind capacity in 2023, generating 25% of electricity.
- Global wind capacity forecast to reach 2,150 GW by 2030.
- Floating offshore wind pilots added 100 MW globally by 2023.
- Canada installed 14.5 GW wind by 2023, with Ontario leading.
- South Africa reached 3.4 GW wind capacity post-REIPPPP rounds.
- New onshore wind capacity in 2023 totaled 94 GW globally.
- Global average capacity factor for onshore wind improved to 36% in 2022.
- Europe's total wind capacity hit 230 GW by 2023.
- Japan's offshore wind capacity targeted 10 GW by 2030, with 144 MW in 2023.
- Mexico's wind capacity reached 9.4 GW by 2023.
- Global wind capacity growth rate averaged 12% annually from 2018-2023.
Installation and Capacity Interpretation
While the wind energy race has China firmly in the driver's seat and Texas blowing strong across the plains, the global fleet is still just dipping its toes—or perhaps its massive 12 MW turbines—into the vast offshore potential, proving we've mastered the land but the real sea change is yet to come.
Policy and Market Trends
- Global policy support via 150 countries with wind targets.
- US Inflation Reduction Act boosts wind PTC to $27/MWh base 2023.
- EU REPowerEU targets 510 GW wind by 2030.
- China aims 1,200 GW wind/solar by 2030.
- India targets 140 GW non-fossil including 100 GW wind/solar by 2030.
- Global wind auctions awarded 25 GW in 2022.
- Brazil's 10th auction cleared 4.5 GW wind at R$28/MWh.
- UK's CfD AR6 awarded 3.6 GW offshore wind 2023.
- 40 countries have competitive bidding for wind 2023.
- US states with RPS mandate 80% renewable, wind key.
- Global corporate PPAs for wind totaled 15 GW in 2022.
- Vietnam PDP8 approves 18 GW offshore wind by 2030.
- Germany's EEG reform sets 115 GW onshore target 2030.
- Australia Capacity Investment Scheme funds 9 GW wind/solar.
- South Africa's REIPPPP Round 5 allocates 2.5 GW wind.
- Feed-in tariffs phased out in 20 countries for mature wind markets.
- Global net-zero pledges require tripling wind capacity by 2030.
- Turkey YEKA auctions award 1 GW wind at $42/MWh.
- Morocco's 3rd integrated program targets 4.5 GW wind/solar.
- Japan's 6th strategic plan sets 45 GW offshore by 2040.
- EU taxonomy classifies wind as sustainable investment.
- US FERC Order 2022 streamlines wind interconnection.
- Global wind curtailment policies cap at 5% in new grids.
- Corporate wind procurement up 20% to 20 GW globally 2023.
- Canada's Clean Electricity Regulations target net-zero grids 2035.
- Mexico's CEL program supports 35% clean energy by 2024.
- Global 320 GW wind pipeline in pre-construction 2023.
Policy and Market Trends Interpretation
As if to mock the climate itself, the world now spins on an axis of government decrees, corporate appetites, and auction gavels, all furiously aligning to harness the wind from every continent in a race to outpace disaster.
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