Wind energy is experiencing unprecedented growth worldwide, with significant investments and technological advancements propelling its expansion. In the first half of 2025, global renewable energy sources, including wind, surpassed coal in electricity generation for the first time, producing 5,072 terawatt hours (TWh) compared to coal's 4,896 TWh. This milestone was largely driven by growth in China and India, where both countries significantly increased their wind and solar outputs, concurrently reducing reliance on fossil fuels. China, the largest electricity consumer, cut fossil-fuel generation by 2% and increased solar and wind power by 43% and 16%, respectively. India boosted wind and solar generation by 29% and 31%, resulting in a 3.1% decrease in coal and gas use. Globally, electricity demand rose by 2.6%, and this increase was met by a combined 403 TWh rise in solar and wind energy. Despite this global shift, fossil-fuel generation rose in the U.S. and EU due to weaker wind and hydropower output. The U.S. saw a 17% rise in coal generation, while Europe’s gas and coal generation rose by 14% and 1.1%, respectively. U.S. President Donald Trump supported coal through executive actions and policy pledges.
In the United States, wind energy is projected to reach 458.15 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2025, reflecting a 5.3% increase from the previous year. This growth is driven by state-level policies and federal incentives promoting sustainable practices. However, the U.S. wind sector faces challenges, including halted projects, reduced tax incentives, and rising costs, leading to a 36% year-on-year decline in renewable energy investment in 2025. In contrast, Europe and Asia are witnessing accelerated growth. Germany's wind power sector is poised for a record-breaking year in 2025, with over 4,000 megawatts (MW) of new onshore wind capacity approved and more than 1,000 MW installed during the first quarter alone. Similarly, China's offshore wind capacity is projected to grow by 16 GW by the end of 2025, with nearly two-thirds of new installations expected to come from the country. This rapid expansion underscores the global shift towards renewable energy sources and the pivotal role of wind power in meeting future energy demands.