Worldwide installation of wind power generation totaled 41,236 megawatts in 2011, leading to a total installed worldwide wind power base of 238,351 megawatts — an increase of more than 20%. China installed more than 40% of the 2011 total and the US installed about 17% to take the top two spots in the rankings.
The report, from the Global Wind Energy Council, noted that 2011 was a difficult year for the wind industry and that 2012 was likely to be more of the same. Cuts to government subsidies get a share of the blame, but falling prices for solar PV modules are also hurting wind installation.
In the US, 6,810 megawatts of wind generation were added in 2011, enough to power about 2 million homes. Total US wind generation capacity is now just shy of 47,000 megawatts, enough to power about 12 million of the more than 100 million US homes.
The 2011 report is available here.
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