Wind energy body says capacity grows at record pace

"Based on a survey amongst the WWEA member associations, double-digit growth for the wind energy market is expected despite the general economic crisis," the association said in a statement in conjunction with a world conference in South Korea.

The association stood by its earlier projection for installed capacity to grow by a record 30,300 megawatts this year to a total of 152,000 MW, it said in a statement.

The WWEA said figures from 11 of the top 15 wind power countries showed an increase of 5,374 MW in installed capacity in the first quarter of 2009, equaling growth of 23 percent from the same quarter last year.

"Although some wind energy projects are postponed due to financing challenges, the overall market development can still compensate such delays showing great signs of vitality," the WWEA said.

A slowdown for wind power development in some regions is largely due to new regulations and bureaucratic delays rather than financing difficulties, the WWEA said.