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Beyond this record performance, the GWEC highlights a deeper transformation: wind power is no longer simply a growing technology, but is increasingly positioned as a core infrastructure within energy systems and industrial strategies. This perspective is framed within a geopolitical context marked by fossil fuel supply tensions, which the report presents as accelerating the shift towards domestic, renewable energy sources.
The Global Wind Report 2026, The Global Wind Report 2026, published by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) — an international body bringing together key stakeholders across the wind energy sector — offers an ambitious interpretation of the industry’s trajectory. According to the report, 2025 marks a turning point, with 165 GW of new capacity installed, bringing total global capacity to over 1,299 GW .
Beyond this record performance, the GWEC highlights a deeper transformation: wind power is no longer simply a growing technology, but is increasingly positioned as a core infrastructure within energy systems and industrial strategies. This perspective is framed within a geopolitical context marked by fossil fuel supply tensions, which the report presents as accelerating the shift towards domestic, renewable energy sources.
The analysis also points to a significant geographical shift. Asia, led by China and India, accounts for a substantial share of new capacity, while new markets are emerging across multiple regions. According to the report, this expansion reflects a structural evolution in which wind power is no longer confined to a limited number of mature economies.
Industrial scale-up and implications for materials
Within this context, the GWEC emphasises the growing role of wind as an industrial driver. The most dynamic markets are described as those successfully aligning policy frameworks, infrastructure planning and industrial strategies. In these environments, wind power becomes a catalyst for investment, shaping ecosystems that include ports, supply chains and workforce development.
For the composites industry, this trajectory, if sustained, could translate into increased demand. The continuous growth in turbine size, particularly blade length, the expansion of offshore and floating wind technologies, and the acceleration of deployment rates all point towards rising needs for lightweight, high-performance and durable materials. Composites are therefore likely to remain central to these technological developments.
The report also refers to broader changes in energy systems, including hybrid projects combining wind, storage, hydrogen and digital infrastructure. These developments may further increase performance requirements for materials, while opening new areas for innovation, particularly in terms of sustainability and recyclability.
At the same time, the GWEC acknowledges a number of constraints that could affect future growth. Supply chain pressures, regulatory uncertainties and social acceptance challenges are all identified as potential limiting factors. The report also notes that, despite record installation levels, the current pace remains insufficient to meet 2030 climate targets.
In this context, the Global Wind Report 2026 primarily provides a sector-driven perspective on the conditions required to sustain growth. For composites manufacturers, it highlights a market that is both expanding and evolving, where opportunities are closely linked to increasing demands for innovation, industrialisation and environmental performance.
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