Worldwide, 15,200 megawatts of new wind generating capacity was installed in 2006, with about 15 billion euros (US$19.5 billion) invested, an increase of 32 percent compared the previous year, VDMA said in a statement.

"We expect to achieve similar growth rates up to at least 2010," said Norbert Giese, head of the wind turbine producers in VDMA. The VDMA represents 3,000 mainly small and medium-size member companies in the engineering industry.

The growth in wind energy capacity last year was mainly driven by the US market, which installed new capacity of 2,454 MW, and by Germany, Spain, India and China.

"Wind energy is not only a German or European but a global growth market," said Thorsten Herdan, head of VDMA Power Systems.

Separately, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), said that about 7,600 MW of new wind generating capacity was installed in Europe last year at a cost of around 9 billion euros, up almost one-fourth from 2005.

EWEA represents 300 companies from 40 countries. Overall wind energy capacity in Europe rose 19 percent to 48,000 MW in 2006. Germany and Spain attracted most investment and accounted for 50 percent of the market. However, contribution from other European countries increased, EWEA said.

Capacity from countries other than Germany, Spain and Denmark rose to 3,755 MW in 2006 from 680 MW in 2002.

"The figures show clearly that a second wave of European countries is investing in wind energy," Christian Kjaer, Chief Executive of EWEA said.

Story credit: Reuters and Planet Ark www.planetark.com

Story Date: 5/2/2007

About the VDMA from its Web site: http://www.vdma.org/