The global wind industry installed a record 165 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity in 2025, representing a 40% increase from the previous year, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). This growth, largely driven by China, marks the fastest expansion of wind power deployment in recent years.
China accounted for a significant portion of this increase, with 120.5 GW installed independently. Asia, led by both China and India, commissioned a total of 131 GW, comprising approximately 80% of the global total. India achieved its highest-ever annual installation figures at 6.3 GW, establishing itself as the second-largest market for new wind capacity. Europe added 19 GW, while the United States contributed more than 6 GW.
Onshore wind capacity grew by 42% to reach 155.3 GW, and offshore wind capacity rose by 18% to 9 GW. Cumulative global wind capacity reached nearly 1.3 terawatts (TW) by year-end. The World Wind Energy Association reported even higher numbers, stating that 169 GW of new capacity was installed, with a total global capacity surpassing 1,346 GW. Wind power generated close to 3,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) annually, providing over 11% of global electricity demand, surpassing nuclear energy for the first time.
This rapid expansion of wind energy gained strategic relevance following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which disrupted global liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows. An analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air indicated that the solar and wind capacity added in 2025 could generate roughly twice the electricity that would have been produced by LNG transiting Hormuz prior to the blockade. Additionally, global fossil fuel power generation fell by 1% year-on-year in March, as increasing solar and wind generation counterbalanced declines in coal and gas-fired output.
Despite the significant growth, GWEC cautioned that annual wind installations need to roughly double to meet the international goal of tripling renewable capacity by 2030. The International Renewable Energy Agency has indicated that an annual addition of 320 GW of new wind capacity is essential. Under current policies, GWEC projects an average of only 194 GW added annually through the end of the decade. Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at CREA, stated, “It’s essential to use this moment to accelerate the global energy transition to mitigate the effects of the current crisis.”
