The World of Wind Power – The WWEApodcast

The United States pioneered modern wind power in the 1980s, briefly leading global installations in 2008–2009 before being overtaken by China. While the Inflation Reduction Act created new incentives for growth, the Trump administration has actively sabotaged progress – attempting to ban new wind farms and even paying companies not to build them.


Energy analyst Michael Barnard joins us to dissect the current U.S. wind market: How critical is wind energy today in the US? Who are the key players by region and company, what role do the states and local players have? And can states, municipalities, and businesses resist these political attacks to keep the wind power momentum alive?

2025 marked a historic milestone: For the first time, the world added 169 GW of new wind capacity in a single year – bringing wind power’s share of global electricity generation to over 11%. While China leads this expansion, dynamic growth is visible worldwide, with countries like Vietnam, Chile, and Turkey emerging as front-runners in wind energy adoption.


In this episode, WWEA President Dr. Irfan Mirza and Secretary General Stefan Gsänger discuss:


* The current global status of wind power and its market momentum.


* Key challenges – from policy frameworks to grid integration – and how to overcome them.


* The critical role of community engagement and strong political support in accelerating deployment.


With the right conditions, wind power – alongside other renewables – can dominate global energy supply, paving the way for a climate-friendly, peaceful, and prosperous future. To achieve this, the world must and can reach 10 million MW of installed wind capacity by 2050, enabling wind to supply up to 40% of global electricity demand.

Chile’s energy landscape is experiencing a profound transformation. Historically dependent on hydropower and imported fossil fuels, the country is now rapidly embracing renewable energy—particularly solar, wind, and storage technologies. This shift is unfolding within a highly liberalized market, where public regulations focus primarily on setting standards. As a result, Chile has emerged as one of the world’s most dynamic and fast-growing wind power markets.


In this episode, Felipe Gallardo, Research Director at the Chilean Renewable Energy Association (ACERA), dives into the dynamics of Chile’s wind power sector. He discusses the key players, opportunities, and challenges shaping the market, and explains why meaningful engagement with Indigenous and local communities is critical for the sector’s success. Expanding the power grid and updating relevant legislation are also urgent priorities for the near future.


With a free and competitive wind power market, Chile is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious goal of 100% renewable energy in the foreseeable future – opening the door to unprecedented opportunities for sustainable growth.

Strategically positioned between Europe and Asia, Turkey has emerged as one of the Mediterranean region’s leading wind power markets. Driven by a growing population and a rapidly expanding economy, the country is accelerating domestic energy production – with wind power playing a central role in this transformation. Today, Turkey stands out as one of Europe’s most dynamic wind energy markets.


In this episode, Ibrahim Erden, Chairman of the Turkish Wind Energy Association (TÜREB), shares insights into the evolution of Turkey’s wind industry – from its early development to its current achievements and future ambitions. He discusses Turkey’s growing importance as both an attractive destination for wind farm investment and a manufacturing hub across the wind energy supply chain.


Where do the greatest opportunities lie? And what challenges must still be addressed to unlock the country’s full wind power potential?