Global Wind Day also known as World Wind Day was observed on June 15 across the globe to raise awareness about the potential of wind energy in reshaping global energy systems and promoting a sustainable future.
- It serves as a platform to highlight the importance of wind power in reducing carbon emissions, ensuring energy security, and creating green jobs.
- This annual event is coordinated by Brussels (Belgium) based WindEurope (formerly known as The European Wind Energy Association, EWEA), the Lisbon(Portugal) based Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), and various national Renewable Energy(RE) associations.
Theme:
i.The theme of World Wind Day 2025 is “Day of Community Action”
ii.It emphasized collective efforts to address climate impacts and ensure access to clean energy. The initiative engages communities, policymakers, and industry leaders through events like wind farm visits, workshops, and educational campaigns across 30 countries.
Background:
i.World Wind Day was first observed in 2007 by the EWEA to highlight the benefits of wind energy in Europe.
ii.In 2009, the observance became a global event through collaboration with the GWEC, thereby expanding the campaign’s outreach beyond Europe.
iii.Since then, it has been celebrated annually on 15th June across the globe to promote awareness and encourage public engagement in wind energy initiatives.
What is Wind Energy?
Wind energy is a form of renewable energy that is generated by converting the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical power or electricity using devices called wind turbines.
- When wind blows, it turns the blades of a turbine. These blades are connected to a rotor, which spins a generator to produce electricity.
- Wind energy is considered clean and sustainable as it does not emit Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) or pollutants during operation.
- It plays a vital role in reducing dependency on fossil fuels and combating climate change.
There are two main types of wind energy systems:
i.Onshore wind energy – turbines installed on land.
ii.Offshore wind energy – turbines installed in ocean or sea areas with higher and more consistent wind speeds.
GWEC Global Wind Report 2025:
The Global Wind Report 2025 was released by Lisbon, Portugal based Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), with support from its Market Intelligence team—and notably includes a partnership with Boston Consulting Group for the projected 2025–2030 outlook.
Highlights:
i.117 GigaWatt(GW) of new wind energy capacity installed in 2024 (record year). Global total wind capacity reached 1,136 GW. China contributed nearly 70% of global installations.
ii.China, United States of America (USA), Brazil, India, and Germany were the top five contributors. Emerging markets like Uzbekistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia showed strong growth.
iii.Expected new wind capacity: 981 GW by 2030.
iv.Projected annual growth: 164 GW/year (Compound Annual Growth Rate of 8.8%).
v.Goal: Reach 320 GW/year to meet the COP28 RE target.
India’s Wind Energy Milestones:
i.Capacity: India ranks 4th globally with 50 GW(as of March 2025) of installed wind capacity, trailing China (237 GW), the United States of America (USA), and Germany.
ii.In the fiscal year 2024–25(FY25), India’s wind energy sector generated approximately 80 terawatt‑hour(TWh), equivalent to around 4.4% of the country’s total electricity production.
iii.India hosts an estimated 11–12 GW of nacelle and turbine assembly capacity, supported by robust manufacturing hubs in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu(TN), and Gujarat.
iv.A National Offshore Wind Energy Policy (2015) targets development along India’s 7,600 kilometer(km) coastline, with Gujarat and TN as priority zones.
Note:For India, scaling wind capacity is pivotal to meeting its 50% non-fossil energy target by 2030 and Net Zero by 2070.
Global Wind Day Celebrations in India:
On June 15, 2025, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) hosted an event to commemorate Global Wind Energy Day in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The theme for the 2025 observance was “Pawan Urja: Powering the Future of India”, emphasizing wind energy’s pivotal role in India’s renewable energy strategy.
- The event was attended by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, MNRE; Union Minister of State(MoS) Shripad Yesso Naik,MNRE and K.G. George, Energy Minister of Karnataka.
- The event was supported by organizations such as New Delhi(Delhi) based Wind Independent Power Producers Association (WIPPA) ; Gurugram(Haryana) based Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA); and New Delhi based Indian Wind Power Association (IWPA).
Key Points:
During the event, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi announced that India’s wind energy capacity has increased by over 10.5% year-on-year to 51.5 gigawatts (GW) in 2025, up from 46.42 GW in 2024.
i.Growth in Renewable Energy Sector:
India’s total RE capacity reached 226.74 GW by May 2025, marking a 17.13% increase from 193.58 GW in May 2024.
ii.Solar Power Leads the Renewable Surge:
- Solar energy capacity grew by 31.49%, reaching 110.83 GW (May 2025)
(from 84.28 GW in May 2024) - In 2014, solar capacity was just 2.82 GW, marking a nearly 39-fold increase in 11 years.
iii.Domestic Solar Manufacturing Boost:
- India has developed strong domestic capacity: 25 GW of solar cell production, 2 GW of wafer production
Karnataka Tops Wind Power Addition in FY25; India Targets 100 GW Wind Capacity by 2030
On the occasion of Global Wind Day 2025, the Government of Karnataka announced that the State had added 1,331.48 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity in FY25, the highest addition among all Indian states.
i.Wind capacity addition in FY25:
- Karnataka: 1,331.48 MW (Rank 1)
- TN: 1,136.37 MW (Rank 2)
- Gujarat: 954.76 MW (Rank 3)
ii.Karnataka’s total installed wind capacity now stands at 7,351 MW, surpassing the combined capacity of countries like South Africa, Portugal, and New Zealand, and comparable to Sweden and Australia.
About Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC):
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Ben Backwell
Chairman – Girish Tanti
Headquarters – Lisbon, Portugal
Established – 2005
