Global wind power installations reached a record 165 gigawatts (GW) in 2025, marking a 40% year-on-year increase, according to a report by the Global Wind Energy Council. The growth was largely driven by China, which alone accounted for 120.5 GW of new capacity, reaffirming its dominant position in the global wind energy sector.

Asia emerged as the leading region, contributing nearly 80% of total installations, with strong additions from China and India. The surge highlights the growing importance of emerging markets in driving the global clean energy transition.

Onshore wind continued to dominate capacity additions, increasing 42% to 155.3 GW. Offshore wind installations also expanded, rising 18% to reach 9 GW, reflecting steady growth in marine-based renewable energy projects.

In other regions, Europe added 19 GW of new wind capacity, while the United States installed nearly 7 GW despite facing policy and regulatory challenges.

With these additions, cumulative global wind power capacity has now reached nearly 1.3 terawatts (TW), marking a significant milestone in the expansion of renewable energy worldwide.

However, despite the record growth, the pace of installations remains insufficient to meet long-term climate targets. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, annual wind capacity additions need to reach approximately 320 GW to align with the goal of tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Under current policy frameworks, annual installations are projected to average around 194 GW, creating a substantial gap between actual deployment and the levels required to meet global climate commitments. This highlights the urgent need for stronger policy support, faster project execution, and increased investment to accelerate the transition to clean energy.

The findings underline a critical reality: while the global wind sector is achieving record growth, it must scale at an unprecedented pace to meet climate goals and ensure a sustainable energy future.