The global market will also experience growth in the future. By 2020, 12 % of the global electricity supply could be provided by wind energy. One factor on which international growth will depend in the coming years is energy-related policies. In the years to come, countries with favourable policies for the expansion of renewable energy will experience considerable growth in the number of wind turbines erected. Current growth markets include Spain, Portugal, the UK, France and Italy within Europe, as well as the USA, China, India and Canada. Future markets include Central and Eastern European countries, other Asian states, Latin America, (North) African countries as well as the Middle East. Moreover, due to the global economic crisis, numerous countries are initiating economic stimulus packages that will further promote development in the markets. Since 2004, Germany has been replacing its older wind turbines with a new generation of more powerful and quieter turbines. This repowering enables high-yield sites to be utilised more effectively.

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) estimates that by 2050 wind energy will be the climate-friendly provider of 34 % of the global electricity demand. Onshore and offshore wind farms will play an increasingly essential role in international efforts to curb the effects of climate change. Construction of Germany's first offshore wind farm is imminent. In the beginning of July 2009, the installation of the first turbines in the alpha ventus offshore test field 45 km north of Borkum near the Fino 1 research platform was carried out. The alpha ventus offshore test field is comprised of 12 wind turbines in the multi-megawatt class (5 - 6 MW).

Due to the increasing trade of energy in Europe, the modification of conventional power plants, particularly near the coasts, as well as the expansion of renewable energies, especially wind power, there is a need to modify the power grid infrastructure. Measures to optimise the existing grid must take priority in this case, not least of which is a further expansion of the grid. In Germany, measures are currently underway to expand the power grid and improve the way in which this network is used, for example through temperature monitoring. These improvements will transform existing power grids into so-called smart grids. The use of new storage technologies, such as compressed air storage (among others) and the storage possibilities of electric vehicles, better load management in private and industry sectors, as well as the linking up of decentralised power generation to so-called virtual power plants all offer significant potential for the optimal integration of wind power.

In the future, research and development will also focus on the previously mentioned virtual power stations. This will allow regenerative energy systems to be coupled together in order to optimally control all the systems in an economical and technically superior way.

The following pages feature an overview of German wind turbine manufacturers and project developers.