America’s wind installations grew six-fold in 2014, making the USA the world’s second-largest wind market behind China, according to new figures from research firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
US installations reached 4.7GW, thanks to the extension of the Production Tax Credit in January 2013. While the US returned to growth, China continued its pattern of record-setting installations up 38% from 2013. In 2014, China installed 20.7GW and 40% of all new capacity worldwide. China now has 96GW of grid-connected wind energy capacity. Wind energy is the country’s third-largest power source behind coal and hydropower, and ahead of nuclear. China’s good year was the result of a policy-driven rush to build, as onshore tariffs are expected to lower this year. The top five Chinese turbine manufacturers Goldwind, Guodian United Power, Envision, Ming Yang, and Sewind led the market with a combined 12.4GW, or 60% of total installed capacity. Most of the new build in 2014 came from domestic wind turbine suppliers, while foreign manufacturers took less than 2% of the market. Germany (3.2GW), Brazil (2.7GW) and India (2.3) round out the top five markets with along with the USA.
