The forecast was published at the 8th World Wind Energy Conference 2009 (WWEC2009) on Jeju island/South Korea in June, and is based on a survey amongst the WWEA member associations.
Using available figures from 11 of the top 15 countries representing over 80% of the world wind energy market, WWEA recorded 5374 MW new installed wind energy capacity in the first quarter of 2009, equalling an increase of 23% compared with last year in the same countries.
WWEA keeps its previous prevision of a total installed wind energy capacity of 152,000 MW worldwide by the end of 2009, which could mean a new record of over 30,000 MW newly installed capacity within one year representing a market growth of 25% compared with 2008.
Although some wind energy projects are postponed due to financing challenges, the overall market development can still compensate such delays showing great signs of vitality, according to WWEA.
“A substantial share of the slow down in some regions are a consequence of new regulations and bureaucratic delays that undermine the development of new wind parks rather than of financing difficulties,” the WWEA adds.