The world's wind power capacity grew by 31% last year, and China generated a third of the additional 37.5 gigawatts of electricity, The Global Wind Energy Council reported.
The group says the wind industry employed more than 500,000 people worldwide and its turbine installations were worth about $63 billion. Its global capacity reached 157.9 gigawatts.
"The continued rapid growth of wind power despite the financial crisis and economic downturn is testament to the inherent attractiveness of the technology, which is clean, reliable and quick to install," Steve Sawyer, the group's secretary general said in the announcement.
China nearly doubled its wind generation capacity, from 12.1 gigawatts in 2008 to 25.1 gigawatts at the end of 2009.
The United States continues to lead in the amount of installed, grid-connected capacity, which rose 39% last year to reach 35 gigawatts.
