The global wind industry is poised for unprecedented growth, as per Wood Mackenzie’s Global Wind Power Market Outlook for Q3 2025. By 2030, the world is expected to reach its second terawatt of wind capacity, a significant milestone considering it took 23 years to achieve the first terawatt in 2023. The rapid growth forecasted indicates that the second terawatt will be installed in just seven years.
In 2025, the wind industry is set to have a record-breaking year, with global additions projected to reach 170 gigawatts (GW). More than 70 GW are anticipated to come online in the last quarter of the year alone, surpassing the total installed capacity in any previous full year before 2020.
The forecast shows a 13% increase from the previous quarter, driven mainly by substantial onshore growth in China. Global wind capacity is on track to double from 2024 levels by 2032. While China leads the way in wind industry growth, other markets are also expanding, albeit at a slower pace. Excluding China, the world is expected to reach 1 terawatt in 2031 and double the 2024 capacity by 2034.
However, challenges such as policy uncertainty and the Trump administration’s hostility toward the wind industry, particularly offshore wind, are affecting the US market. The recent OBBBA bill passed in July 2025 terminates tax credits after 2027, leading to a rush of projects in the short term but dampening the long-term outlook. For the first time, the US has fallen behind India and Germany in forecasted 10-year additions.
Sasha Bond-Smith, a research analyst at Wood Mackenzie, stated, “China’s dominance in the wind industry is becoming more pronounced. While other established markets struggle with policy uncertainty and economic headwinds, we’re witnessing an unequalled concentration of growth in China that’s reshaping the industry landscape.”
China’s onshore wind forecast has increased due to rising electricity demand from data centers and electrification. Despite challenges facing China’s offshore wind sector, Wood Mackenzie projects that wind could match solar’s power output in the country over the forecast period, playing a vital role in meeting climate goals and addressing increasing power demand.
In Europe, Asia Pacific, and emerging markets, onshore wind remains steady, supported by tender results and pipeline developments. However, offshore wind is facing difficulties, with high costs and failed tenders causing setbacks in Europe and delays in emerging markets. Policymakers are urged to reconsider contract structures to keep offshore wind projects moving forward.
Kárys Prado, a senior research analyst at Wood Mackenzie, emphasized, “The wind industry’s most significant transformation in decades continues to unfold. While achieving historic scale, success will depend on how effectively the industry navigates this new geography of growth and adapts to evolving policy landscapes.”
