Wind turbine orders up sharply, study finds, driven by China and the United States

From January to June, wind turbine orders represented a capacity of 69,5 GW (gigawatts), up 12% compared to the same period last year, indicates the research firm Wood Mackenzie.

This is a record for a first half, but it remains lower than sales in the second half of 2022. In total, the volume of purchases reached 40,5 billion dollars (37,3 billion euros) in first semester.

Purchases outside of China "are one of the main drivers" of this increase with "demand of more than 25 GW, an increase of 47% year-on-year in the first half", it is specified. in the study.

North America is driving this increase, with a volume of electrical power (7,7 GW) quadrupling compared to the first half of 2022. According to the study, this is partly explained by the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States , this vast energy transition and social reform program decided by US President Joe Biden.

However, China remains the leading buyer of wind turbines, with orders representing 44 GW, a stable level over one year.

According to Wood Mackenzie, offshore wind is also a big part of this trend, growing "by 26% year-on-year in the first half to reach a record level of activity of 12 GW and 17% of total order capacity". .

This increase propels the German-Spanish company Siemens Gamesa into third position in terms of power ordered, behind the Chinese Envision Energy and Windey. The Danish Vestas, historically number one in the world in the sector but which is being overtaken by the Chinese giants, is only fifth in this ranking for the first half of 2023.