Global wind energy market becomes a hurricane

Global wind power capacity has grown to 238,351 MW. (GETTY IMAGES)

A new report by GlobalData has found that the global wind energy market recorded impressive growth through 2010 – 2011, with total installed wind power capacity growing by 20.6% over the period. The research found that installed global capacity in the market has grown from 74,212 MW in 2006, to 238,351 MW last year.

GlobalData's report also found that the offshore wind power sector is set for future growth, with large scale wind project due to come online. Capacity offshore is expected to grow to 52.1 GW in 2020, with most development concentrated in Europe. This increased use of offshore facilities, together with their increasing distance from shorelines, is expected to also bolster demand in the export cable market. Demand there is forecast to grow to 648.2km of cabling by 2020.

Wind farms in the region have been in the news recently, with the announcement that an EDF-led consortium is take the lead in the development of the Taza wind project in Morocco. The scheme will see the development of a 150 MW wind plant, as part of Morocco's plans to create 4,000 MW of renewable capacity in the next eight years.

Elsewhere, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development is invested in a 6MW wind farm project in the Seychelles, the first of its kind in the country. When finished, the plant will constitute 11% of the main island’s electricity capacity.

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