Global wind capacity expanded at its fastest pace ever in 2025, adding 165 GW worldwide. While Asia continues to dominate installations, Europe is still falling short of the deployment rates needed to meet its 2030 climate targets.
Global wind capacity reaches a new historic milestone
Amid the ongoing global energy transition, global wind capacity reached a new record in 2025 with 165 GW of newly installed capacity, a 40% increase compared to the previous year. It marks the strongest annual performance ever recorded by the industry. Following BloombergNEF’s findings, the latest Global Wind Report from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) confirms the trend.
Total installed global wind capacity has now climbed to 1,299 GW across 138 countries, highlighting the increasingly important role of wind power in national energy systems.
This growth comes as fossil fuel markets continue to face volatility. High oil and gas prices, coupled with supply disruptions, have strengthened the case for renewable energy investments. The sector’s momentum is also reflected in the number of turbines deployed, with 28,395 units installed across 57 countries during 2025 alone.
“The strong increase we have seen in global wind installations sets a new benchmark for an industry that is accelerating rapidly,” said Ben Backwell, emphasizing the industry’s ability to deliver affordable and resilient energy.
Asia accounts for 80% of new installations
The global wind capacity market remains heavily concentrated in Asia. In 2025, the Asia-Pacific region installed 131.8 GW, representing roughly 80% of all new capacity worldwide.
China remained the clear leader, adding 120.5 GW in a single year and reaching a cumulative installed capacity of 640.5 GW. The country continues to dominate both annual additions and overall market size.
India ranked third globally for new installations, adding 6.3 GW and posting year-on-year growth of 86%. The increase supports India’s objective of reaching 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.
Together, China, the United States, India, Germany and Brazil accounted for 86% of all new installations and nearly 75% of total global wind capacity, underscoring the concentration of investment and deployment in a handful of major markets.
Europe surpasses 300 GW but remains behind schedule
Europe recorded more moderate yet still significant growth. The continent installed 19.1 GW of new wind capacity in 2025, a 16% increase from the previous year, pushing cumulative capacity beyond 300 GW.
The European Union contributed 15.1 GW, up 17% year-on-year. However, current deployment rates remain insufficient to meet the bloc’s 2030 climate and renewable energy targets.
Growth was primarily driven by Germany and Turkey, while other markets experienced slower expansion due to lengthy permitting procedures and grid infrastructure constraints.
Strong momentum in the United States and emerging markets
In the United States, onshore wind installations reached 6.9 GW, marking a notable recovery after several years of slower growth. The result highlights the continued competitiveness of wind energy and the impact of supportive policy frameworks.
Africa and the Middle East also posted a record year, adding 2.6 GW of new capacity. Growth was led by South Africa and by unprecedented expansion in Saudi Arabia. The Dawadmi wind project achieved one of the lowest electricity generation costs ever recorded for wind power.
By contrast, Latin America installed 3.7 GW, reflecting weaker electricity demand and curtailment challenges, particularly in Brazil.
Onshore remains dominant as offshore approaches 100 GW
Technology trends show that global wind capacity is still overwhelmingly driven by onshore projects. In 2025, onshore installations reached 155.3 GW, rising 42% year-on-year, while offshore additions totaled 9.3 GW, up 16%.
Despite the gap, offshore wind is nearing an important milestone. Global offshore capacity reached 92.3 GW, bringing the sector close to the 100 GW threshold.
China accounted for 6.6 GW of offshore additions, while Europe installed around 2 GW, led by the United Kingdom.
However, challenges are emerging. Only 11.4 GW of new offshore capacity was awarded through auctions in 2025, below the record levels seen in 2024. Failed tenders in Europe, project cancellations in the United States and changes to support mechanisms in China contributed to the slowdown.
Structural barriers continue to limit deployment
Despite rapid expansion, the wind industry still faces significant structural obstacles. Bureaucratic hurdles and delays in grid development remain among the most pressing challenges.
“Bureaucratic red tape and slow roll-out of grids is stopping badly needed projects from being built,” Backwell warned.
The issue is not a shortage of projects or investment capital, but rather the ability of permitting systems and electricity networks to keep pace with the demands of the energy transition.
Industry leaders are calling for faster permitting procedures, accelerated grid investments, stronger industrial supply chains and increased capital mobilization to unlock future growth.
Global wind capacity could exceed 2 TW before 2030
Looking ahead, global wind capacity is expected to continue expanding steadily. Between 2026 and 2030, the sector is projected to add another 969 GW, averaging 194 GW per year and delivering a compound annual growth rate of 5.2%.
At that pace, global installed wind capacity would surpass 2 TW by 2029, just six years after reaching the first terawatt milestone in 2023.
China is expected to remain the largest market in the near term, accounting for around 63% of new installations in 2026. However, forecasts point to a gradual geographic diversification of growth.
From 2027 onward, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East are expected to play a larger role, with more than half of global expansion projected to come from outside China by the end of the decade.
“A remarkable 40% growth rate across 138 countries demonstrates how wind power is accelerating the global energy transition,” said Girish Tanti, highlighting wind energy’s strategic contribution to energy security and price stability.
