Global Wind Power Capacity Reached 100,000 MW

The Earth Policy Institute has just published a study which says that the generating capacity of wind power just reached the 100,000 megawatts installed.

Last year a record was set by increasing the generation capacity by 20,000 MW, with a total of 94,100 MW. The report says “this is enough to satisfy electricity for 150 million people. Today 1 in 3 countries generate a portion of its electricity with wind, with 13 countries, exceeding the 1000 MW of installed capacity of wind power. Wind energy is a key part in the plan to reduce 80% of the carbon emissions by 2020.

Some other important points of the study are:

* In 2007, wind energy surpassed for the first time in history the addition of energy to another form of energy. Wind power currently accounts for 4% of electricity demand in Europe, enough for 90 million people.

* Spain installed, in 2007, 3520 MW of solar energy, the highest number for a year in Europe. Currently it represents 10% of its electricity, just below Denmark in terms of percentages.

* For the third consecutive year the U.S. was the largest wind power installer by 5240 megawatts.