In this article, we discuss 5 countries that produce the most wind energy. If you want to see more countries that produce the most wind energy, go directly to 15 Countries That Produce the Most Wind Energy.
#5 Spain
2021 Megawatts of Installed Wind Turbine Capacity: 27,497
Wind is the biggest source of electricity generation in Spain given the country’s installed wind turbine capacity of 27.5 GW. With the installed capacity, wind accounted for more than 23% of the country’s electricity mix. In terms of its wind generation, Spain has around 1,000 wind farms that collectively have over 20,000 wind turbines. Spain ranks #5 on our list of 15 Countries That Produce the Most Wind Energy.
#4 India
2021 Megawatts of Installed Wind Turbine Capacity: 40,067
India ranks #4 on our list of 15 Countries That Produce the Most Wind Energy given its installed wind turbine capacity of over 40 GW. Given its growing economy, demand for electricity in India has grown substantially in the last decade with wind turbines helping to meet some of the growth.
In 2020, wind accounted for 4% of India’s electricity generation according to the International Renewable Energy Agency and the renewable energy source is expected to potentially account for a bigger percentage of electricity generation mix in the future considering estimates from the Global Wind Energy Council that projects wind energy to be potentially as much as 40% below conventional sources of power in some places of the country. According to the Council’s estimates, India could install over 19 GW of wind over the next 5 years.
#3 Germany
2021 Megawatts of Installed Wind Turbine Capacity: 63,760
Germany is a major adopter of wind energy given its 2021 installed wind turbine capacity of almost 64 GW. Given its large economy and world class engineering talent, Germany’s government has the resources to increase its wind generation substantially. Germany’s government also has a policy of attaining 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035. In order to do so, a government paper outlines plans to potentially increase wind energy capacity to 110 GW onshore, and as much as 30 GW offshore.
#2 United States
2021 Megawatts of Installed Wind Turbine Capacity: 132,738
The United States is the world’s second largest generator of wind energy with installed wind turbine capacity of 132.7 GW in 2021. Thanks to supportive government policies and lower wind costs, the United States’ wind capacity has grown by an average growth rate per annum of 11.3% from 2011 to 2021, with 12.1% growth in 2021. As a result of recent construction, wind generates over 9% of electricity nationwide including more than 50% in Iowa and South Dakota.
#1 China
2021 Megawatts of Installed Wind Turbine Capacity: 328,973
China ranks #1 on our list of 15 Countries That Produce the Most Wind Energy given its 2021 installed wind turbine capacity of almost 329 GW.
China is the leader in wind given the country has enormous energy needs considering its large population and its second largest economy. The Chinese government has also implemented subsidies to increase renewable energy generation in the last decade to lower carbon emissions.
In addition to being a leader in terms of installed capacity of onshore wind, China is a leader in offshore wind. According to data from the country’s National Energy Administration, China has around 26 GW of installed offshore wind, versus the global installed offshore capacity of 54 GW. In 2021 alone, China installed nearly 17 GW of offshore wind capacity.
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