Global wind capacity set to pass 2 terawatts by 2030, powering economic growth

If you care about clean energy and the economy, wind power is becoming impossible to ignore. New data from the Global Wind Energy Council shows that 2025 was a record year, with 150 gigawatts of new global capacity installed, up 8.8 percent from earlier forecasts.

That growth was led by Asia, with India adding 6.3 gigawatts, Europe 16.5 gigawatts, the United States more than 7 gigawatts, and China on track to hit 100 gigawatts.

By 2030, global wind capacity will surpass 2 terawatts. Emerging markets like Vietnam, Australia, and the Philippines are catching up with Europe, using wind power to meet rising energy demand while decoupling growth from emissions.

In Asia-Pacific outside China, wind energy is expected to account for 12 percent of global installations by the end of the decade.

Ben Backwell, CEO of GWEC, said that fast-growing economies are driving wind energy growth, which in turn fuels their economies. In China, 225,000 wind turbines already generate over 1.2 gigawatt-hours, helping reduce reliance on thermal generation.

In India, record-breaking wind and solar installations are meeting soaring electricity demand. The UK’s AR7 auction will bring £22 billion in private investment to wind energy.

Girish Tanti, Vice-Chairman of GWEC, emphasized that the world is entering an energy-intensive growth phase, and wind is becoming its backbone.

Global installations jumped from 94 gigawatts in 2021 to 150 gigawatts in 2025. By 2030, countries including China, India, Vietnam, Australia, and the Philippines will rely on wind to meet industrial demand, urbanization, and electrification at the lowest cost.

The bigger picture is clear. Economic growth and renewable energy are now intertwined. Asia-Pacific alone will consume 60 percent more energy by 2040, and wind is stepping up to meet that demand. For investors, policymakers, and consumers, embracing wind today means cleaner, more secure energy and stronger economies for tomorrow.