Wind power reaches 1.3 million MW worldwide

20.04.2026

Source: E & M powernews

The wind industry has installed 165,000 MW of new capacity worldwide, according to the Global Wind Report 2026. In times of geopolitical crises, this secures the growing demand for electricity.

According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the global wind energy sector installed 165,000 MW of new capacity worldwide in 2025. The expansion took place in an environment of geopolitical tensions, growing demand for electricity and ongoing uncertainties in fossil energy markets. The GWEC published its global report for the year on April 20.

According to the report, the escalation in the Middle East and the temporary restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in particular have once again highlighted the dependence of many economies on fossil fuels.

Disruptions in supply chains, price spikes and economic consequences occurred simultaneously in several regions. According to the report, this highlights a structural problem that has existed since the oil crises of the 1970s: highly concentrated and internationally traded fossil fuels increase the vulnerability of energy systems.

Against this backdrop, wind energy is becoming increasingly important as a component of modern electricity systems. According to the report, it is one of the few renewable technologies that is already available on a large scale and can be used flexibly in terms of geography. In many countries, it supports the expansion of industrial capacities, digitalization and the growing need for a stable power supply.

Continued pace of expansion

The development in the period under review shows a continued expansion of installed capacity. According to the Global Wind Report, installed wind power capacity worldwide rose to 1.3 million MW. Governments are increasingly focusing on domestic renewable energies in order to reduce dependency on imports and strengthen security of supply. According to the report, a total of 138 countries are now at least partially supplied by wind energy.

The expansion in 2025 also illustrates the dynamism of the sector. A total of 28,395 new wind turbines were installed in 57 countries. The focus of the expansion continued to be on onshore projects, which are considered particularly economically relevant in many markets.

In regional terms, China, the USA and India in particular are driving expansion. In these countries, the demand for electricity is increasing due to industrial production, digital infrastructure and new manufacturing technologies, among other things. The report points out that the expansion of data centers, electrified processes and industrial automation in particular is increasing the demand for additional, reliable power generation.

Fossil fuels remain uncertain

At the same time, the market remains influenced by external factors. Volatile prices for fossil fuels, uncertainties regarding raw material costs and logistical bottlenecks continue to affect energy investments. According to the report, the wind sector is nevertheless continuing to develop steadily, as projects are increasingly being integrated into national energy and industrial strategies on a long-term basis.

The Global Wind Report identifies several key conditions for further development. These include the expansion of grid infrastructure, faster approval procedures and stable investment frameworks. Only if these factors work together can expansion take place at a pace that keeps pace with the growing demand for electricity.

The report thus classifies the wind sector as an increasingly system-relevant component of the global electricity supply. It combines energy generation with issues of industrial competitiveness and security of supply in an environment that continues to be characterized by geopolitical uncertainties.

The Wind Power Report 2026 is available for download on the GWEC website.

Author: Susanne Harmsen