50.2 GW of Wind Power Added in 2018, a 4% Increase from 2017

50.2GW of new wind power was added globally in 2018, a 4% increase year over year and the third highest annual total on record, according to the Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables “Global Wind Power Market Outlook Update: Q1 2019” report. Commenting on the research, Luke Lewandowski, Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables Research Director, said: “This significant level of investment seen last year was largely driven by a resurgence in China. The lifting of red warnings in key Northern provinces in China unlocked development, contributing to a 37% uptick YoY in the country (+5.6GW), that influenced nearly 2GW of net capacity additions globally last year. “The expiration of legacy subsidy programs in Europe tempered YoY gains in China, with countries in Northern Europe (-26% YoY) and Western Europe (-36% YoY) hit the hardest as the RO (UK) and FiTs (Finland and Germany) phased out.