據全球風能委員會提出的新數據指出，就去年而言，全球風力發電產業就裝設了超過140億美元的新設施，這個數據較2004年成長了四分之一。以新裝設的發電機組產出的電量來看，美國以2,431百萬瓦特（MW）的發電量領先各國，每年約可供應68萬700戶一般家庭的供電。
德國是全世界下一個安裝新的1,808百萬瓦特發電裝置的國家，西班牙則是第三，有1,764百萬瓦特，印度第四，1,430百萬瓦特，葡萄牙第五，500百萬瓦特，而中國則是第六有498百萬瓦特。委員會表示，這個發展模式顯示像葡萄牙和中國等新使用者也有進展。全世界所安裝的風力發電總瓦數則已達到5萬9,322百萬瓦特。
由於石化產品飛漲的價格以及因全球暖化因而需要限制碳排放量，風力發電的發展預計在不久的將來會迅速發展。
挪威開發公司Havsul執行長德戴爾表示，Havsul計畫在2010至2011年間讓價值24億美金的1,500百萬瓦特風力發電園區正式上線，但是必須先取得挪威政府特許執照以及一般綠色認證。
全球風能委員會主席澤爾沃斯表示：「整體發展狀況證明，正確的政治架構是維持全球風力發展以及開拓新市場的關鍵因素。」
澤爾沃斯解釋，如果沒有政治的支持，風能將處在不利競爭的情形，因為數十年來大量財經、政治與結構支持傳統科技造成世界能源市場的扭曲。
他表示：「大約48個政府已經引介各項法律與規章來支持可更新能源的發展，但是如果想獲得風能在全世界帶來的獲益，這方面的努力仍需加強。」
安裝風能發電瓦特總數最高的前三名分別是德國，18,428百萬瓦特，西班牙，10,027百萬瓦特，以及美國，9,149百萬瓦特。
有4,430百萬瓦特的印度超過丹麥成為全世界第4大風力市場。其餘包括義大利、英國、荷蘭、中國、日本以及葡萄牙等數個國家所安裝的風能也已經突破1,000百萬瓦特大關──此門檻被認為是風能市場能持續成長的重要關卡。
在2005年，歐洲風能成長了18%，假如歐盟平均每年有3%能源使用。以印度為首的亞洲在2005年安裝的新風力發電成長達到20%。
中國在2005年安裝近500百萬瓦特的新風能發電，為2004年的兩倍。中國2004年制定「再生能源法」，2006年1月1日開始實施。
由埃及以及摩洛哥為首，年輕的非洲市場則有穩定成長，去年所安裝的風力是2004年的兩倍。
Worldwide, the wind energy industry installed more than US$14 billion worth of new generating equipment last year, an increase of 25 percent over 2004, according to new figures released by the Global Wind Energy Council. In terms of new installed capacity in 2005, the United States led the world with 2,431 megawatts, roughly enough to power 680,700 average U.S. households per year.
Germany was next in the world with 1,808 MW of new installed capacity, Spain was third with 1,764 MW, India was fourth with 1,430 MW, Portugal was fifth with 500 MW, and China was sixth with 498 MW. This pattern of development shows that new players such as Portugal and China are gaining ground, the Council said. The total installed wind power capacity now stands at 59,322 MW worldwide.
Wind power development is set to boom in the near future due to the rising price of petroleum products and the need to limit emissions linked to global warming.
Havsul plans to bring the $2.4 billion 1500 MW wind park online in 2010-2011, but only if it wins concessions from the Norwegian government and a common green certificate market is established, said Harald Dirdal, CEO Norwegian development company Havsul .
Global Wind Energy Council Chairman Arthouros Zervos said, "The overall picture confirms that the right political framework is crucial to sustain the growth of wind power around the world and to open new markets."
Zervos explained that without political support wind energy is at a competitive disadvantage due to distortions in the world's electricity markets created by decades of massive financial, political and structural support to conventional technologies.
"Some 48 governments have already introduced laws and regulations to support the development of renewable energies, but this effort needs to be increased if the benefits of wind energy are to be reaped around the world," he said.
The three countries with the highest total installed capacity are Germany with 18,428 MW, Spain with 10,027 MW, and the United States with 9,149 MW.
India with 4,430 MW has overtaken Denmark as the fourth largest wind market in the world. A number of other countries, including Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, China, Japan and Portugal have reached the 1,000 MW mark of installed capacity, a figure thought to be critical for sustained market growth.
In 2005, the European wind capacity grew by 18 percent, providing nearly three percent of the European Union's electricity consumption in an average wind year. Led by India, in 2005, Asia accounted for 20 percent of new wind power installations.
China installed nearly 500 MW of new capacity in 2005, more than double the 2004 figure in anticipation of the country's new Renewable Energy Law, which entered into force on January 1, 2006.
Led by Egypt and Morocco, the young African market saw steady growth, with twice as much wind power installed last year as in 2004.
