During the 21th century, many countries in the world have invested in the wind energy sectors

As per the statistical reports, prepared by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) that the cumulative installed capacity of global wind energy has reached with 282.43 GW by the end of the year 2012. At the end of 2012, global wind energy capacity boosted with the total new installed capacity of 44. 71 GW which was nearly about 10% more capacity than 2011. This year was only for china and USA, both countries had added above 13 GW of the new installed capacity. At the end of 2012, China, who placed in the top position where as USA placed in second position just 1% less added of new installed wind energy in the global. As compared to 2011, Chinese wind energy capacity had so slowed in 2012 but USA pushed nearly two times more than the added capacity of 2011. Germany also placed in the 3rd position as in 2011 with new added capacity of 2.4 GW and cumulative capacity of 31.33 GW. However, India placed from 3rd position in 2011 to 4th position for added of new installed capacity by 2. 3 GW in 2012. This year Asia is also continuing his top position by added of 15.75 GW followed by North America 14 .86 GW, Europe 12.41 GW (total EU) and Latin America and Caribbean 1.22 GW respectively. In Asian markets, both China and India added comparatively slower than the previous year. In the year 2012, only nine countries had added more than 1 GW new installed capacity of wind energy and twenty three countries had added more than 1 GW capacity of cumulative wind energy capacities.

In Africa and Middle East, Ethiopia first time added new wind energy capacity by 52 MW where as Tunisia added new installed capacity of 50 MW (nearly 92% of total capacity in 2011) with cumulative capacity of 104 MW. Other countries were not new installed in this region. By the end of 2012, the total installed capacity had reached by 1.13 GW with total new installed capacity of 102 MW in this region.
In the European region, Germany had added the new installed capacity of 2.43 GW followed by Spain 1.12 GW, UK 1.89 GW, Italy 1.27 GW , Romania 0.92 GW, Poland 0.88 GW, Turkey 0.5 GW and France 0.4 GW respectively. Other countries were added much slower capacity in this region. In cumulative capacity, Germany also placed the top position with a capacity of 31.33 GW followed by Spain 22.79 GW, UK 8.44 GW, Italy 8.14 GW, France 7.19 GW, Portugal 4.52 GW, Denmark 4.16 GW, Sweden 3.74 GW, Poland 2.49 GW, Netherlands 2.39 GW, Turkey 2.31 GW, Romania 1.9 GW, Greece 1.74 GW, Ireland 1.73 GW, Austria 1.37 GW and Rest of EU 4.92 GW respectively.
In Latin America and Caribbean, Brazil added new installed capacity of 1.07 GW where as other countries were added comparatively slower. In the region, the total new installed capacity was about 1.22 GW where as cumulative capacity was 3.5 GW. Brazil was placed top position with cumulative capacity of 2.5 GW followed by Argentina 167 MW, Cost Rica 147 MW, Nikaragua 102 MW where as other countries were comparatively lower from above these countries.
In the North American region, the total new installed capacity was 14.8 GW where USA alone added 13.2 GW followed by Canada 935 MW and Mexico 801 MW. In cumulatively, USA added 60 GW followed by Canada 6.2 GW and Mexico 1.37 GW. The total cumulative capacity of this region was about 67.5 GW.
In Specific Region, Australia alone added new installed capacity by 358 MW in 2012. The total installed capacity of this region was 3.2 GW by the end of this year. In offshore wind energy capacities, UK added new installed of wind energy 0.85 GW with cumulative capacity of 2.94 GW.


Author's Profile:
Bikash Kumar Sahu (Asst. Prof), Department of EEE
Gandhi Institute for Education and Technology (GIET), Baniatangi, Khorda, Bhubaneswar, 756020, Odisha, India