http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2006-03-07T200824Z_01_L0756533_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENERGY-WIND.xml&archived=FalseCOPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The global wind energy industry is expected to enjoy continued strong growth in coming years with total installed capacity seen more than tripling from current levels by 2014, an industry survey showed on Tuesday.
Over the next eight years, international installed capacity is expected to increase to about 210,000 megawatts from today's installed total of about 59,000 megawatts, a study by the German Wind Energy Institute (DEWI) showed.
The study, conducted on behalf of Hamburg Messe in the run-up to an industry fair in May, identified Germany, France, Spain and the United States as key future markets.
"The international wind energy market, which showed growth rates in 2005 of 16 percent in Europe, and as much as 73 percent outside of Europe, will continue to boom", the report said.
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/home Record Year for Global Wind Energy
Global Wind Power Market Increased by 43 Percent in 2005
February 27, 2006
Brussels, Belgium The global wind energy sector experienced another record year in 2005. According to the figures released by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) for 2005, the installation of 11,769 megawatts (MW), which represents a 43.4% increase in annual additions to the global market, was up from 8,207 MW in the previous year. The total value of new generating equipment installed was more than Euro 12 billion, or US$14 billion.
"Wind energy offers more than just power: it has the potential to support economic development, improve the security of energy supply, mitigate hydrocarbon price volatility, create jobs and contribute to substantial CO2 reductions. Without political support, however, wind energy remains at a competitive disadvantage due to distortions in the world's electricity markets created by decades of massive financial, political and structural support to conventional technologies." -- Arthouros Zervos, Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), Chairman
The total installed wind power capacity now stands at 59,322 MW worldwide, an increase of 25% compared to 2004.
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