The global capacity from wind power is expected to exceed 800 gigawatts (GW) by 2021, according to a new Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) report.
The Global Wind Report: Annual Market Update also reports that global wind power capacity rose by 54 GW to 486.8 GW, a 12% increase on the year. The additional capacity was spread over 90 countries, with ones in Asia featuring prominently. China alone added 23 GW of capacity last year.
In a statement, GWEC Secretary General Steve Sawyer said:
“Wind power is now successfully competing with heavily subsidized incumbents across the globe, building new industries, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and leading the way towards a clean energy future.”
Wind power looks set to experience a good year in Africa, and the Australian wind power industry is set to make a comeback with several new projects being built in the next few years. Sawyer also added that offshore wind power made important price breakthroughs last year and should begin to live up to its potential as technology continually improves.
Onshore wind turbines are often in remote locations, and offshore turbines are even harder to access, so it is significant that improved lubrication—such as with synthetic-based, high-performance greases like Mobilith SHC 220—has enabled operators to maintain peak efficiency with longer service intervals.
With wind farms being constructed around the world, including in arid and humid climates, lubricants will no doubt evolve further as manufacturers grapple with the diverse environmental conditions.
