Since 2012, global wind power generation capacity has nearly quadrupled. As technologies have matured and costs have come down, wind energy has been embraced by countries across the globe. But successful energy production requires winds to actually move the turbines that generate power. To expand wind energy, you must know where—and how fast—the wind blows.
To support these needs, researchers from the Technical University of Denmark and World Bank Group have created the Global Wind Atlas. The maps below from Esri use this data to show average wind speeds and potential for energy production. All three use dark-to-light color ramps (which work well on dark basemaps) to highlight wind patterns.
Wind Speed
This map shows average wind speeds over a 10-year period at several different heights. By default, the map visualizes speeds at 100 meters above the ground, which is the average height of a wind turbine hub. Wind speeds tend to be highest in coastal areas, although many deserts, plains, and plateaus on the map also glow brightly. On almost every continent, there are areas with high average wind speeds. But as the remaining maps show, high wind speed does not always translate into high potential for energy production.
Power Density
The power density map considers wind speed and elevation to report density in watts per square meter. The relative smoothness of terrain and how it facilitates wind flows plays a significant factor. Power density data provides more nuance than wind speed alone and is generally more accurate in terms of the wind’s ability to push a turbine. As with the wind speed map, coastal areas are still prominent. But many of the plains and continental areas from the first map are muted in this view. South America, especially southern Argentina and Chile, stands out. So do places where winds are funneled through narrow areas between geological features, like the Strait of Gibraltar.
Capacity Factor
The last map estimates turbine capacity factors for standard rotor diameters at a 100-meter height. When combined with data about rated power, capacity factor can be used to estimate energy yields at that location. In other words, higher capacity factors mean higher energy yields. This map’s patterns reflect elements of the first two maps. Landlocked areas show up here, but few places glow as brightly as they did in the first two maps. Like the other maps, coastal areas show highest potential. In viewing these three maps together, it’s no surprise that offshore energy generation is accelerating.
More to Explore
- Compare solar and wind farm sites globally from 2017 to 2024.
- Dig into the methodology behind the Global Wind Atlas.
