WWEA: Small Wind World Market: Growth at Lower Pace

On the occasion of the 6th World Summit for Small Wind in Husum (Germany), WWEA has released the global small wind statistics. The Summary of the 2015 Small Wind World Report indicates that 2013 was a challenging year for the small wind industry, after several years of continuous growth.

As of the end of 2013, a cumulative total of at least 870’000 small wind turbines were installed all over the world. This is an increase of 8 % (10 % in 2012) compared with the previous year, when 806’000 units were registered. The three biggest markets, China, USA and UK, saw a decrease in the number of units installed in a year, however, still representing together 93 % of the units installed worldwide. China continues clearly to be the market leader in terms of installed units: 55’000 units were added in 2013, 15’000 less than in 2012, reaching 625’000 units installed by the end of 2013.

The changes in the feed-in scheme introduced in the UK in November 2012 had a big impact on the market reducing the deployment of sub-50 kW turbines by nearly 80%. Only 500 units were installed in the UK during 2013, a decrease of 86% compared with 2012 and the lowest level for four years.

The recorded small wind capacity installed worldwide has reached more than 755 MW as of the end of 2013. This is a growth of 15 % compared with 2012, when 678 MW registered. In 2011, 576 MW were installed. China accounts for 41 % of the global capacity, the USA for 30 % and UK for 15 %.

Stefan Gsänger, WWEA Secretary General: “Although we still see robust growth in several markets, the current figures are clear indicating that small wind has recently been neglected by renewable energy policymakers. As reported by many speakers during our World Summit for Small Wind, lack of policy support and administrative and bureaucratic hurdles are still the main barriers for small wind. However, the small wind community shows a strong spirit of innovation. This, in hand with new policies in some countries, will help to further grow the small wind sector. In particular off grid applications in rural areas offer additional huge market opportunities for the sector.”

Download the summary of the Small Wind World Report

Subscribe to the full online version of the Small Wind World Report in the WWEA Bookshop

Source: WWEA press release from 20.03.2015