Divergence

全球風力能源市場快速成長，2006年的表現更是超出預期，而風力工業的產能已連續兩年創下新記錄。

綜合70多個發展風力能源國家的資料，全球風力能源委員會（GWEC）公佈的數據顯示，去年風力發電設備裝機量為15,197百萬瓦特，相較於2005年41%的市場成長率，2006年又增加了32%。總裝機量從2005年的59,091百萬瓦特增加到74,223百萬瓦特。

根據美國風力開發業者enXco公司表示，1百萬瓦特的風力發電，可以生產出供300個傳統北美家庭使用一年的電量。

在經濟價值方面，風力能源工業穩定的供給，已讓此工業變成能源市場重要的成員之一，以2006年來說，所安裝的新發電設備總值高達230億美元(180億歐元)。

所有國家中，風力生產總量最高的是德國，約20,621百萬瓦特。西班牙和美國分居二、三名，產量約為11,603百萬瓦特。印度和丹麥分別以6,270百萬瓦特和3,136百萬瓦特排名第四和第五名。

Booming wind energy markets around the world exceeded expectations in 2006, with the sector experiencing a second consecutive record year.

Covering wind energy developments in more than 70 countries, figures released by the Global Wind Energy Council, GWEC, show the installation of 15,197 megawatts last year, an increase of 32 percent over 2005 - another record year in which the market grew by 41 percent.

These installations take the total global wind energy capacity to 74,223 megawatts, up from 59,091 megawatts in 2005.

A megawatt of wind produces about as much electricity as up to 300 typical North American households use in a year, according to American wind power developer enXco.

In terms of economic value, the wind energy sector has now become firmly installed as one of the important players in the energy markets, with the total value of new generating equipment installed in 2006 reaching US$23 billion or 18 billion.

The country with the highest total installed capacity is Germany with 20,621 megawatts.
Spain and the United States are in second and third place, each with a little more than 11,603 megawatts installed.

India is in fourth place with 6,270 megawatts total, and Denmark ranks fifth with 3,136 megawatts installed.