Allemagne : June 19, 2009

Germany, Europe’s leading wind power producer, was eclipsed by the United States in overall capacity last year. Ironically, at the same time Germany was being passed by the US in this category, it became the leading source of renewable electricity on the Continent for the first time.

An analysis of wind energy trends since 1980 revealed that Germany continues to lead European efforts in this area. However, 50 percent fewer new wind power installations were built by Germany in 2007 when compared to its record year of 2002. The United States, on the other hand, saw a 50 percent increase in new wind power capacity in 2007 making it the world’s largest producer of electricity from wind in the world.

While the US may take some pride in surpassing Germany in wind power, this production accounts for less than one percent of its overall domestic electricity needs. Germany’s wind power production accounts for approximately 7.5 percent of its overall electricity requirements – a noteworthy achievement given the country’s status as an industrial powerhouse.

The US may not enjoy its leading role for too much longer. It is widely expected to be surpassed by China as the world’s leader of new installation as the recession tightens available credit in the American market. The global recession has been playing havoc in the renewable energy sector as consumers scramble for cheaper energy sources in an effort to bolster falling revenues and profit margins. However, despite the economic downturn, 2008 was a very good year for wind produced energy as global capacity grew by almost 29 percent – a rate faster than the average rate of growth over the past decade. As a result, wind power accounts for approximately 1.5 percent of the world’s total electricity production.