IEA Wind Energy 2009 Annual Report Now Available for Download
September 20, 2010
The U.S. Department of Energy has distributed the International Energy Agency's (IEA) recently published IEA Wind Energy Annual Report 2009, which is now available for free download. The report presents the latest information on domestic and international wind generation capacity, national incentive programs, progress toward national objectives, benefits to national economies, research and development results, and issues affecting turbines, market growth, and costs of projects. The Executive Summary synthesizes the information presented from IEA's member countries, cooperative research tasks, the European Commission, and the European Wind Energy Association. Read the Executive Summary
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Wind power is a fast-growing source of clean energy. In the United States 40% of new electricity generation came from wind last year, while in Europe, wind power installations accounted for 39% of new capacity. IEA Wind member countries added more than 20 gigawatts (GW) in 2009, for a total of more than 111 GW of wind generating capacity. Five countries added more than a gigawatt of net capacity: the United States (10 GW), Spain (2.5 GW), Germany (1.9 GW), Italy (1.1 GW), and the United Kingdom (1 GW). Additionally, wind power electrical generation capacity grew more than 32% worldwide in 2009. These and other statistics on wind energy development are highlighted in the report.
The IEA Wind member countries—located in Europe, North America, Asia, and the Pacific Region—contain 70% of worldwide wind generating capacity. These countries share information and research efforts to increase wind energy's contribution to their electrical generation mix, and they reach out to other countries to join the IEA Wind cooperation.
The IEA Wind Energy Annual Report 2009 was funded and produced by the IEA Wind implementing agreement and is made available to participating countries through their national representatives. The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory represent the United States in this agreement. The new IEA Wind Energy 2009 Annual Report may be downloaded for free on the IEA Wind Web site.
Please visit the Wind and Water Power Program Web site for more information on how DOE works to accelerate the development and deployment of wind energy technology.
