• Global wind capacity reached 1,299 GW after 165 GW added

• China led growth, installing 120 GW, over half global total

• Capacity must hit 320 GW annually by 2030 for climate goals

Wind energy hit a new milestone in 2025, with global capacity continuing its steady expansion.

According to a report released Monday by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the industry added 165 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity last year. This brought total installed wind power worldwide to nearly 1,299 GW and extended a 25-year growth streak.

Since 2001, when global capacity stood at just 24 GW, the sector has grown continuously. Installed capacity increased tenfold by 2012, surpassed 500 GW in 2017 and crossed 1,000 GW in 2023, supported by falling equipment costs and resilience despite disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic and global supply chain constraints.

GWEC said wind energy is becoming a central technology in modern electricity systems. It noted that among clean energy sources, wind is currently the only one that combines sufficient maturity, reliability and geographic flexibility at scale to support power grids, meet rising industrial demand and strengthen energy security.

Onshore wind led growth in 2025, with 155.3 GW of new capacity commissioned, up 42% from 2024. Offshore wind expanded more moderately, adding 9.3 GW, a 16% increase.

China drives global expansion

China remained the dominant player. The country added 120 GW of new capacity, bringing its total installed wind fleet to 640 GW in 2025, more than half the global total, according to GWEC. It also remains the world’s largest supplier of wind equipment.

Strong investment in both onshore and offshore wind is driving growth across Asia. The region accounted for 131 GW of new capacity, or 80% of the global total. India also posted solid gains, installing an additional 6.34 GW.

Europe ranked second, adding 19.1 GW and pushing its total capacity above 300 GW. The United States installed nearly 7 GW of new onshore wind capacity.

In Africa, South Africa led expansion, adding 509 megawatts (MW) to reach 4,037 MW. Morocco followed with 261 MW, bringing its total to 2,629 MW, while Egypt added 242 MW to reach 3,097 MW. Egypt could regain the regional lead in the near term, with 1.3 GW currently under construction.

Strong outlook, but gaps remain

GWEC expressed optimism about future growth, describing wind as an abundant, affordable, scalable and locally available energy source that can support energy sovereignty.

Global wind capacity is expected to grow by 969 GW between 2026 and 2030, averaging 194 GW per year. At that pace, total capacity would exceed 2 terawatts by 2029, with China playing a central role.

In September 2025, China said it aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 7% to 10% by 2035. It has also adopted a new five-year plan covering 2026 to 2030 that requires annual wind installations of at least 120 GW, including a minimum of 15 GW offshore.

Analysts say current efforts will need to accelerate significantly.

Data from the International Renewable Energy Agency shows that annual wind installations must reach 320 GW by 2030 to meet the COP28 target of tripling global renewable energy capacity. That goal is aimed at keeping global warming within 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Espoir Olodo