China has become the new world leader in wind energy production, with 42.3 GW of wind power installed. This country has overtaken the US, with 40.2 GW.
Between 2006 and 2009, China has doubled its wind power capacity annually, reaching a record of 16.5 GW in 2010.
According to the latest report made by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, about 20% of the additional energy is obtained from wind, nearly on par with its hydro. Currently, China is a world leader in large-scale hydropower, having a global production of 21%.
In the wind energy sector, the US dropped to half the rate of 2009, when the Obama administration Recovery Act provided a onetime boost. Due to the return of a much more fossil-friendly House, policies that have contributed to the renewable power growth have been delayed once again.
Regarding the rest of the world, the European Union nations had around 9.3 GW of wind power installed in 2010, bringing the EU total to 84.1 GW. As the report said, the total world wind capacity is now 194.4 GW.
[via Cleantechnica]
China is going the right way in producing more and more wind power. They and we have no choise. But with the exponential increase of power it is even becoming a smaller percentage of the total power produced. With an increase of green power we also need to lower our energy hunger and that will never occur with a rising economy.