A record manufacturing-and-logistics year
GWEC’s supply-side data counts 28,395 wind turbines mechanically installed in 2025, up 23% from 2024. Those machines represented 178 GW of capacity. Mechanical installation is not the same as grid connection, which helps explain the difference between the 178 GW supply-side figure and 165 GW of newly connected capacity in the global market report.
That distinction matters. A turbine can be erected before energization, grid acceptance or commercial operation. Analysts comparing OEM execution, country additions and revenue recognition should make sure the underlying milestone is the same.
Competition is increasingly regional
Five Chinese manufacturers led 2025 installation volume, supported primarily by the extraordinary scale of China’s domestic market. Western OEMs remain prominent in cumulative installations and international reach; GWEC notes that Vestas has installed in the greatest number of markets.
The result is not one global contest with a single scoreboard. Domestic scale, bankability requirements, trade measures, service networks, certification and local-content policy create overlapping regional markets.
Bigger turbines do not remove system constraints
Larger rotors and higher nameplate ratings can improve energy capture and reduce the number of foundations, roads or offshore positions required for a project. They also increase transport, crane, port and component-reliability demands. A model that wins on turbine-level economics can still lose at project level if infrastructure cannot handle it.
In 2026, the strategic advantage belongs to suppliers that pair competitive machines with dependable delivery, financeable warranties, spares and long-term service capacity.
Frequently asked questions
How many wind turbines were installed in 2025?
GWEC counted 28,395 mechanically installed turbines worldwide, 23% more units than in 2024.
Why is mechanically installed capacity higher than connected capacity?
Mechanical completion can occur before grid connection and commercial operation, so the two metrics cover different project milestones.
Primary sources
Figures are attributed to the publication and milestone used by the source. Forecasts are labeled as forecasts; mechanical installation is not treated as grid connection.
- Wind turbine installations and OEM market updateGlobal Wind Energy Council · accessed 2026-07-19
- Global Wind Report 2026Global Wind Energy Council · accessed 2026-07-19