Fuel report
Renewables 2020
Analysis and forecast to 2025
Wind
Onshore wind is a proven, mature technology with an extensive global supply chain and offshore wind is also expected to grow rapidly.
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Onshore technology has evolved over the last five years to maximise electricity produced per megawatt capacity installed to unlock more sites with lower wind speeds. Wind turbines have become bigger with taller hub heights, and larger rotor diameters.
Offshore wind is also expected to grow rapidly. Deploying turbines in the sea takes advantage of better wind resources than at land-based sites. Therefore, new offshore turbines are able to achieve significantly more full-load hours depending on resource availability.
Offshore wind is also expected to grow rapidly. Deploying turbines in the sea takes advantage of better wind resources than at land-based sites. Therefore, new offshore turbines are able to achieve significantly more full-load hours depending on resource availability.
Last updated Nov 24, 2020
Key findings
Onshore wind net capacity additions by country or region, 2015-2022
OpenWind capacity additions increase 8% in 2020 despite Covid-19 disruptions
Wind capacity additions will reach 65 GW (including 5.3 GW offshore) in 2020, 8% more than in 2019. Although Covid-19 measures led to onshore construction activity slowing down from February to April, project developers and equipment manufacturers adopted to the “new normal” and accelerated construction activity in May. For 2021, the forecast assumes a further acceleration of wind additions to 68 GW (7.3 GW offshore), driven by delayed onshore projects becoming operational. In 2022, slowdown is expected, due to phase-out of incentives in China and United States. With additional support, wind annual deployment could reach almost 100 GW until 2025.
Offshore wind power generation in the Sustainable Development Scenario, 2000-2030
OpenCost reductions, technology improvements and rapid deployment achieved in Europe need to be extended to other regions
Compared with record 32% growth in 2017, offshore wind electricity generation increased only 20% in 2018. Given its relatively small base, offshore wind growth must accelerate even further to reach the generation levels demonstrated in the SDS. The cost reductions, technology improvements and rapid deployment achieved in Europe need to be extended to other regions.
Onshore wind power generation in the Sustainable Development Scenario, 2000-2030
OpenMore efforts are needed in onshore wind power
In 2019, onshore wind electricity generation increased by an estimated 12%. Capacity additions began to grow again by 22% after stagnating during 2016-18. However, more efforts are needed: annual onshore wind capacity additions need to increase much more quickly through 2030 to get on track with the SDS.
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The Wind TCP’s mission is to stimulate co-operation on wind energy research, development, and deployment (RD&D). The Wind TCP provides high quality information and analysis to member governments and commercial sector leaders by addressing technology development, deployment and its benefits, markets, and policy options.
