Wind turbine manufacturers reached a record high in 2023, according to the Global Wind Energy Council’s (GWEC) annual Supply Side Data report. GWEC Market Intelligence reported that 30 wind turbine manufacturers installed a record 120.7 GW of new capacity last year, despite challenges in the macroeconomic environment and ongoing supply chain disruptions.
Chinese suppliers led the market, installing 81.6 GW in 2023, with Chinese companies taking four of the top five spots in this year’s supplier rankings. Goldwind emerged as the top supplier, with Envision moving up three positions to second place, and Denmark’s Vestas securing third place. Windey and Mingyang took fourth and fifth positions, respectively, with Mingyang becoming the world’s largest offshore wind turbine supplier in 2023. Sany and Dongfang also featured in the top 10. Notably, 97% of Chinese installations were within China, consistent with the previous year, while Chinese companies installed 2.3 GW outside their home market, with 63% of that in Asia.
In Europe, Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, Nordex Group, GE Vernova, and Enercon remained the top five turbine suppliers in 2023. Globally, Vestas fell two positions from 2022 to third place, yet remained the most geographically diverse, with installations in 36 countries. In terms of total global cumulative wind turbine installations, Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, and GE Vernova were the top three suppliers at the end of 2023.
Ben Backwell, CEO of GWEC, stated, “The data in this report shows a global industry entering a period of accelerated growth, concentrated in mature markets like China, the US, and Germany. For wind energy to fully contribute to achieving Net Zero, growth must accelerate worldwide, especially in emerging and developing economies.”
Backwell added, “The wind industry can thrive globally if governments collaborate with the industry to implement the energy transition through supportive, long-term policymaking and multilateral cooperation. Despite a record year for wind energy installations, we need faster progress to meet climate goals and ensure market conditions support a healthy global manufacturing supply chain. The industry is ready to work with partners worldwide to create conditions for long-term market growth and deliver the tripling of renewables agreed at COP28.”
Insight
In 2023, 23,833 wind turbines were installed globally, manufactured by 30 companies, including 19 from the Asia-Pacific region, 8 from Europe, 2 from America, and 1 from the Middle East. Growth was primarily driven by orders from manufacturers’ home markets, particularly China, the US, and Europe.
Goldwind installed 16.7 GW of capacity last year, making it the leading turbine supplier. Envision moved up three positions to second place, while Vestas fell to third despite increasing its new installations by one percent compared to 2022, with installations in 36 countries. Windey and Mingyang took fourth and fifth places, with Mingyang being the largest offshore wind turbine supplier in 2023.
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