Global wind capacity increased by an estimated 27,051 megawatts in 2008, with cumulative installations up almost 29 percent, according to Worldwatch Institute.

The growth rate exceeded the annual average of the past decade.

It added that the U. S. led in new installations, surpassing Germany to rank first in wind energy cumulative capacity and electricity generation. U.S. capacity increased by 50 percent to 25,170 megawatts. Additions would have been even greater had it not been for delayed extension of the federal Production Tax Credit, which caused developers to postpone an estimated 4,000 megawatts of further additions to 2009.

For the first time last year, wind power represented Europe’s leading source of new electric capacity (with 8,877 megawatts added), well ahead of natural gas at 6,939 MW and coal at 763 MW. By the end of 2008, wind power accounted for eight percent of EU power capacity, enough to generate 4.2 percent of the region’s electricity in a normal wind year.

Asia accounted for almost one-third of global wind capacity, with China quickly surpassing its 2010 wind target of 10,000 MW and ending 2008 with 12,200 MW in place.

China ranked second after the U. S., with approximately 6,300 megawatts installed during 2008, doubling the nation's cumulative wind capacity for the fourth year in a row.

Wind power accounted for 42 percent of new capacity additions in the U. S. (second only to natural gas for the fourth year running) and for 36 percent of new installations in Europe. The wind now generates more than 1.5 percent of the world’s electricity, up from 0.1 percent in 1997. Around the world, 80 countries are now using wind power on a commercial basis.