**largest wind farms** 50
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Writer AndyKim Hit 1,308 Hit Date 25-02-03 12:41Content
overview of some of the **largest wind farms** around the world, generally ranked by **installed capacity** (the maximum amount of power they can produce). Because new projects are constantly being built or expanded, exact rankings can change over time, but these examples highlight the most significant wind power installations globally.
---
## 1. Gansu (Jiuquan) Wind Farm – China
- **Capacity**: Planned capacity up to 20,000 MW (20 GW); over 10,000 MW already installed/operational.
- **Location**: Gansu Province, northwestern China.
- **Key Details**:
- Often referred to as the **Jiuquan Wind Power Base**.
- One of the largest onshore wind developments in the world.
- Part of China’s extensive push to increase renewable energy capacity, although grid integration remains a challenge in remote regions.
---
## 2. Jaisalmer Wind Park – India
- **Capacity**: Over 1,600 MW (1.6 GW).
- **Location**: Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, India.
- **Key Details**:
- Developed primarily by **Suzlon Energy** and other wind power companies.
- Utilizes the strong desert winds in Rajasthan to generate electricity.
- Part of India’s ambitious national plan to expand wind and other renewables.
---
## 3. Alta Wind Energy Center – United States
- **Capacity**: Approximately 1,550 MW (1.55 GW).
- **Location**: Tehachapi Pass, Kern County, California, USA.
- **Key Details**:
- One of the largest onshore wind farms in the United States.
- Close to existing transmission lines that connect to major cities like Los Angeles.
- Developed in multiple phases by **Terra-Gen Power**.
---
## 4. Muppandal Wind Farm – India
- **Capacity**: Around 1,500 MW (1.5 GW).
- **Location**: Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India.
- **Key Details**:
- Benefits from powerful gusts in the region’s coastal areas and mountain passes.
- One of the early large-scale wind projects in India.
- Part of Tamil Nadu’s status as a leading Indian state in wind energy production.
---
## 5. Shepherds Flat Wind Farm – United States
- **Capacity**: About 845 MW.
- **Location**: Morrow and Gilliam counties, Oregon, USA.
- **Key Details**:
- One of the largest onshore wind farms in the Pacific Northwest.
- Developed by **Caithness Energy** with turbines supplied by GE.
- Supplies clean electricity to utilities in California.
---
## 6. Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm – United Kingdom
- **Capacity**: 659 MW.
- **Location**: Irish Sea, off the coast of Cumbria, England.
- **Key Details**:
- Once the world’s largest operational offshore wind farm (recently surpassed by other new offshore projects, especially in the UK).
- Developed by **Ørsted** (formerly DONG Energy).
- Showcases the UK’s leadership in large-scale offshore wind.
---
## 7. London Array Offshore Wind Farm – United Kingdom
- **Capacity**: 630 MW.
- **Location**: Outer Thames Estuary, off the coast of Kent, England.
- **Key Details**:
- A major symbol of the UK’s offshore wind expansion.
- Jointly owned by **RWE**, **Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ)**, and **Ørsted**.
- Helps reduce carbon emissions by providing clean electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes.
---
## 8. Roscoe Wind Farm – United States
- **Capacity**: Approximately 780 MW (at its peak after expansions).
- **Location**: Near Roscoe, Texas, USA.
- **Key Details**:
- At one point the largest wind farm in the world.
- Developed in multiple phases by **E.ON Climate & Renewables**.
- Part of Texas’s broad adoption of wind energy, capitalizing on the region’s strong and steady winds.
---
## Other Notable Mentions
- **Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center (USA)** – 735 MW in Taylor and Nolan Counties, Texas.
- **Xcel Energy’s Colorado Projects (USA)** – A collection of large wind farms across Colorado.
- **Offshore Projects in China, Denmark, and the Netherlands** – Rapid expansion of offshore wind in Europe and Asia has led to several new multi-hundred MW installations, often with high-capacity turbines.
---
## Why Wind Farms Are Growing So Quickly
1. **Cost Competitiveness**
- Wind power is now cost-competitive with many traditional energy sources, thanks to larger and more efficient turbines and falling construction/maintenance costs.
2. **Policy Support**
- Governments worldwide offer incentives, feed-in tariffs, or renewable energy mandates that promote wind development.
3. **Technology Improvements**
- Advancements in turbine blade design, materials, and taller towers have significantly improved energy capture and turbine efficiency.
4. **Environmental and Climate Goals**
- Countries and corporations are setting targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, driving investment in wind and other renewables.
---
## Challenges and Future Outlook
- **Grid Integration**: Balancing electricity supply and demand with intermittent sources like wind can require grid upgrades, storage solutions, and improved forecasting.
- **Offshore Expansion**: Offshore wind turbines face higher capital costs but benefit from stronger and more consistent wind resources, making offshore a booming sector in Europe and Asia.
- **Turbine Recycling**: Disposal and recycling of large turbine blades at the end of their lifecycle is a growing concern; new research and design strategies aim to make turbines more sustainable.
Looking ahead, global wind capacity is expected to **grow rapidly**, especially as turbines become even larger (12–15 MW offshore turbines are already in development). Whether onshore or offshore, wind energy will continue to be a **key resource** in helping countries transition to low-carbon energy systems.
Below is an **approximate** list of 50 of the world’s largest wind farms (onshore and offshore), generally ranked by **installed or planned capacity**. Because wind farms are constantly being expanded or newly commissioned, **exact rankings can vary over time**, and different sources sometimes aggregate neighboring projects differently. The capacities listed are **best estimates** from publicly available information and may not reflect the most recent expansions. Nonetheless, this overview provides a sense of which projects currently dominate wind power generation worldwide.
---
## Top 50 Largest Wind Farms (Approximate Ranking by Capacity)
| **Rank** | **Wind Farm** | **Country** | **Approx. Capacity (MW)** | **Notes** |
|----------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **1** | **Gansu (Jiuquan) Wind Farm** | China | 10,000+ (planned up to 20,000) | Often cited as the world’s largest onshore wind project; multiple phases and developers. |
| **2** | **Hami Wind Farm (various projects)** | China | 8,000+ (phased) | Large wind base in Xinjiang, part of China’s push for massive renewable energy “mega-bases.” |
| **3** | **Inner Mongolia Wind Base** | China | 7,000+ (phased) | Consists of multiple projects across Inner Mongolia; cumulative capacity in the multi-GW range. |
| **4** | **Jaisalmer Wind Park** | India | ~1,600 | Among India’s largest onshore projects, located in Rajasthan’s desert region. |
| **5** | **Alta Wind Energy Center** | United States | ~1,550 | Situated in Tehachapi Pass, California; developed in multiple phases by Terra-Gen Power. |
| **6** | **Muppandal Wind Farm** | India | ~1,500 | Located in Tamil Nadu; one of the earliest and largest wind installations in India. |
| **7** | **Roscoe Wind Farm** | United States | ~780–800 | Located in Texas, once the largest onshore wind farm globally upon completion of its phases. |
| **8** | **Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center** | United States | ~735 | Another major Texas wind site developed by NextEra Energy. |
| **9** | **Shepherds Flat Wind Farm** | United States | ~845 | Located in Oregon; developed by Caithness Energy with GE turbines, supplying California utilities. |
| **10** | **Capricorn Ridge Wind Farm** | United States | ~660 | Situated in Sterling and Coke counties, Texas; owned by NextEra Energy. |
| **11** | **Walney Wind Farm (Walney + Extension)**| United Kingdom | ~1,000+ combined | Offshore in the Irish Sea; Walney Extension alone is ~659 MW, but additional phases push total higher. |
| **12** | **London Array** | United Kingdom | 630 | Offshore in the Thames Estuary; once the world’s largest operational offshore wind farm. |
| **13** | **Greater Gabbard** | United Kingdom | 504 | Offshore wind farm located off the Suffolk coast in the North Sea. |
| **14** | **Fowler Ridge Wind Farm** | United States | ~750 | Located in Indiana; owned by BP Alternative Energy and Dominion Resources. |
| **15** | **Bardia Wind Farm (Rajasthan projects)**| India | ~600+ (combined) | Rajasthan hosts multiple large wind projects near the Bardia region, developed by various companies. |
| **16** | **Xcel Energy Colorado Projects** | United States | ~600+ (scattered) | Xcel operates numerous wind farms in Colorado (e.g., Cedar Creek, Rush Creek) totaling > 600 MW. |
| **17** | **Hornsea One Offshore Wind Farm** | United Kingdom | 1,218 | A massive new addition in the North Sea, surpassing many older offshore projects (fully commissioned). |
| **18** | **Anholt Offshore Wind Farm** | Denmark | 400 | Developed by Ørsted in the Kattegat; among Denmark’s larger offshore farms. |
| **19** | **Gemini Wind Farm** | Netherlands | 600 | Offshore project in the North Sea, off the coast of Groningen. |
| **20** | **Sherbino Wind Farm** | United States | 600+ | Located in Pecos County, Texas; developed in phases by BP and others. |
| **21** | **Los Vientos Wind Farm** | United States | ~900 (multiple phases) | A cluster of projects in Starr County, Texas, developed by Duke Energy. |
| **22** | **Red Hills Wind Farm** | United States | ~200 (smaller individually) | In Oklahoma; multiple expansions. Combined capacity is smaller but part of a broader group. |
| **23** | **North Hoyle & Nearby Offshore Farms** | United Kingdom | ~1,000+ (regional grouping) | Includes multiple adjacent sites in the Irish Sea, developed in phases. |
| **24** | **Statoil’s Sheringham Shoal** | United Kingdom | 317 | Offshore wind farm near Sheringham, Norfolk, co-owned by Equinor and partners. |
| **25** | **Offshore Wind Farm Egmond aan Zee** | Netherlands | 108 | Early Dutch offshore project; part of ongoing expansions along the Dutch coast. |
| **26** | **Macarthur Wind Farm** | Australia | 420 | One of Australia’s largest wind farms; located in Victoria, co-owned by AGL. |
| **27** | **Waubra Wind Farm** | Australia | 192 | In Victoria, owned by Acciona; historically among the largest in the Southern Hemisphere at launch. |
| **28** | **Horns Rev Offshore Wind Farms** | Denmark | ~600+ combined | A series of projects (Horns Rev 1, 2, 3) off the Danish North Sea coast. |
| **29** | **Lake Turkana Wind Power** | Kenya | 310 | Largest wind farm in Africa, harnessing strong winds near Lake Turkana. |
| **30** | **Boti Wind Farm** | China | ~300 (phased) | One of many sizable Chinese onshore developments, cumulatively adding up to large capacity. |
| **31** | **Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm** | China | 102 (initial) ~250+ (expanded) | China’s first large-scale offshore wind project near Shanghai; expansions are ongoing. |
| **32** | **Huitengxile Wind Farm** | China | 300+ | Inner Mongolia region; strong wind resources on the Mongolian plateau. |
| **33** | **Chokecherry and Sierra Madre** | United States | 1,000–3,000 (planned) | Wyoming-based project under development, aiming to become one of the largest in North America. |
| **34** | **Meikle Wind Farm** | Canada | 180 | British Columbia’s largest wind farm, harnessing mountain winds. |
| **35** | **Rattlesnake Wind Project** | United States | ~200 | Part of a cluster in Texas; new expansions under construction. |
| **36** | **South Plains Wind Farm** | United States | 400+ | Located in Floyd County, Texas; developed by Tri Global Energy and others. |
| **37** | **Woolnorth Wind Farm** | Australia | ~300 total (various sites) | Three separate sites (Studland Bay, The Bluff, etc.) in Tasmania, owned by Hydro Tasmania. |
| **38** | **Thanet Offshore Wind Farm** | United Kingdom | 300 | In the North Sea, off the coast of Kent; once the largest offshore wind farm when inaugurated. |
| **39** | **EnBW Baltic 2** | Germany | 288 | Baltic Sea offshore wind farm, representing Germany’s move toward offshore renewables. |
| **40** | **Borkum Riffgrund (1 & 2)** | Germany | ~600 combined | Offshore projects developed by Ørsted in the German North Sea. |
| **41** | **Rampion Wind Farm** | United Kingdom | 400+ | Offshore wind project off the Sussex coast, developed by RWE and partners. |
| **42** | **Saint-Nazaire Offshore Wind Farm** | France | 480 (planned/operational) | First large-scale offshore wind farm in France, located off the Atlantic coast. |
| **43** | **Biglow Canyon Wind Farm** | United States | 450 | Oregon-based onshore site owned by Portland General Electric. |
| **44** | **Te Rere Hau Wind Farm** | New Zealand | ~50 (modest size) | Smaller capacity but notable as part of NZ’s high share of renewables; expansions possible. |
| **45** | **Shirawaki and Other Projects** | Japan | <100 each but cumulatively >300 | Japan’s mountainous terrain leads to smaller individual farms; cumulatively significant. |
| **46** | **Danish Kriegers Flak** | Denmark | 604 (expected) | Large offshore wind area in the Baltic Sea, part of Denmark’s ongoing offshore expansion. |
| **47** | **Edinbane Wind Farm** | Scotland (UK) | 41 (smaller) | One of many wind farms on the Isle of Skye; included for geographic diversity. |
| **48** | **Braes of Doune Wind Farm** | Scotland (UK) | 72 | A typical UK onshore farm; many 30–100 MW projects exist across Scotland. |
| **49** | **Rio do Fogo Wind Farm** | Brazil | 49 | Brazil is rapidly expanding wind power, mostly in coastal and high-wind regions of the northeast. |
| **50** | **Cerro de Hula Wind Farm** | Honduras | 126 | Central America’s largest wind project for some time; crucial for local energy diversification. |
---
### Key Observations
1. **China’s Dominance**
- China hosts multiple **mega-scale** wind bases (such as Gansu, Hami, and Inner Mongolia) that each surpass the gigawatt scale. The Gansu (Jiuquan) Wind Farm alone has a target capacity of up to **20 GW**, dwarfing most single-site projects in other countries.
2. **United States and India**
- Both countries have vast onshore wind resources. Texas in the U.S. and states like Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu in India feature prominently in the top rankings.
- **Multiple multi-gigawatt** onshore wind clusters exist in these regions.
3. **Offshore Wind Expansion**
- **The United Kingdom** leads with large offshore farms like Walney Extension, Hornsea One, and London Array.
- Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and other European nations are also aggressively expanding their offshore capacity. China is catching up fast with large offshore projects near its eastern coast.
4. **Global Proliferation**
- Wind projects now span every inhabited continent. Countries like **Brazil**, **Kenya**, **Australia**, and **Canada** each have significant wind farms, illustrating wind power’s universal appeal.
5. **Future Growth**
- Many sites in the top 50 are still **under expansion** or part of broader multi-phase complexes. Large new offshore projects (e.g., in the U.S. Northeast, Taiwan, South Korea) could rapidly climb into top positions once completed.
- As turbine technology advances (with 10–15 MW turbines becoming common offshore), the capacity of individual wind farms will continue to grow.
---
### Additional Notes
- **Variations in Reporting**: Some sources aggregate multiple nearby wind developments under a single name (e.g., “Gansu Wind Farm” or “Hami Wind Base”), while others break them down into separate projects.
- **Capacity vs. Generation**: This list is based on **installed capacity** (megawatts, MW), not actual electricity output. Real-world generation can vary depending on wind conditions, turbine technology, and grid constraints.
- **Ongoing Updates**: Wind energy is one of the fastest-changing sectors in renewable power. Rankings above are approximate and may shift as projects expand or new wind farms surpass existing ones.
---
**In summary**, global wind power continues to scale up dramatically, with **onshore “mega-bases”** in places like China and the U.S. dominating total capacity. At the same time, **offshore wind** is emerging as a major contributor, especially in Europe (and increasingly in China and the U.S.). The top 50 wind farms listed here underscore how wind has become a central pillar of international efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition to sustainable energy systems.
---
## 1. Gansu (Jiuquan) Wind Farm – China
- **Capacity**: Planned capacity up to 20,000 MW (20 GW); over 10,000 MW already installed/operational.
- **Location**: Gansu Province, northwestern China.
- **Key Details**:
- Often referred to as the **Jiuquan Wind Power Base**.
- One of the largest onshore wind developments in the world.
- Part of China’s extensive push to increase renewable energy capacity, although grid integration remains a challenge in remote regions.
---
## 2. Jaisalmer Wind Park – India
- **Capacity**: Over 1,600 MW (1.6 GW).
- **Location**: Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, India.
- **Key Details**:
- Developed primarily by **Suzlon Energy** and other wind power companies.
- Utilizes the strong desert winds in Rajasthan to generate electricity.
- Part of India’s ambitious national plan to expand wind and other renewables.
---
## 3. Alta Wind Energy Center – United States
- **Capacity**: Approximately 1,550 MW (1.55 GW).
- **Location**: Tehachapi Pass, Kern County, California, USA.
- **Key Details**:
- One of the largest onshore wind farms in the United States.
- Close to existing transmission lines that connect to major cities like Los Angeles.
- Developed in multiple phases by **Terra-Gen Power**.
---
## 4. Muppandal Wind Farm – India
- **Capacity**: Around 1,500 MW (1.5 GW).
- **Location**: Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India.
- **Key Details**:
- Benefits from powerful gusts in the region’s coastal areas and mountain passes.
- One of the early large-scale wind projects in India.
- Part of Tamil Nadu’s status as a leading Indian state in wind energy production.
---
## 5. Shepherds Flat Wind Farm – United States
- **Capacity**: About 845 MW.
- **Location**: Morrow and Gilliam counties, Oregon, USA.
- **Key Details**:
- One of the largest onshore wind farms in the Pacific Northwest.
- Developed by **Caithness Energy** with turbines supplied by GE.
- Supplies clean electricity to utilities in California.
---
## 6. Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm – United Kingdom
- **Capacity**: 659 MW.
- **Location**: Irish Sea, off the coast of Cumbria, England.
- **Key Details**:
- Once the world’s largest operational offshore wind farm (recently surpassed by other new offshore projects, especially in the UK).
- Developed by **Ørsted** (formerly DONG Energy).
- Showcases the UK’s leadership in large-scale offshore wind.
---
## 7. London Array Offshore Wind Farm – United Kingdom
- **Capacity**: 630 MW.
- **Location**: Outer Thames Estuary, off the coast of Kent, England.
- **Key Details**:
- A major symbol of the UK’s offshore wind expansion.
- Jointly owned by **RWE**, **Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ)**, and **Ørsted**.
- Helps reduce carbon emissions by providing clean electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes.
---
## 8. Roscoe Wind Farm – United States
- **Capacity**: Approximately 780 MW (at its peak after expansions).
- **Location**: Near Roscoe, Texas, USA.
- **Key Details**:
- At one point the largest wind farm in the world.
- Developed in multiple phases by **E.ON Climate & Renewables**.
- Part of Texas’s broad adoption of wind energy, capitalizing on the region’s strong and steady winds.
---
## Other Notable Mentions
- **Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center (USA)** – 735 MW in Taylor and Nolan Counties, Texas.
- **Xcel Energy’s Colorado Projects (USA)** – A collection of large wind farms across Colorado.
- **Offshore Projects in China, Denmark, and the Netherlands** – Rapid expansion of offshore wind in Europe and Asia has led to several new multi-hundred MW installations, often with high-capacity turbines.
---
## Why Wind Farms Are Growing So Quickly
1. **Cost Competitiveness**
- Wind power is now cost-competitive with many traditional energy sources, thanks to larger and more efficient turbines and falling construction/maintenance costs.
2. **Policy Support**
- Governments worldwide offer incentives, feed-in tariffs, or renewable energy mandates that promote wind development.
3. **Technology Improvements**
- Advancements in turbine blade design, materials, and taller towers have significantly improved energy capture and turbine efficiency.
4. **Environmental and Climate Goals**
- Countries and corporations are setting targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, driving investment in wind and other renewables.
---
## Challenges and Future Outlook
- **Grid Integration**: Balancing electricity supply and demand with intermittent sources like wind can require grid upgrades, storage solutions, and improved forecasting.
- **Offshore Expansion**: Offshore wind turbines face higher capital costs but benefit from stronger and more consistent wind resources, making offshore a booming sector in Europe and Asia.
- **Turbine Recycling**: Disposal and recycling of large turbine blades at the end of their lifecycle is a growing concern; new research and design strategies aim to make turbines more sustainable.
Looking ahead, global wind capacity is expected to **grow rapidly**, especially as turbines become even larger (12–15 MW offshore turbines are already in development). Whether onshore or offshore, wind energy will continue to be a **key resource** in helping countries transition to low-carbon energy systems.
Below is an **approximate** list of 50 of the world’s largest wind farms (onshore and offshore), generally ranked by **installed or planned capacity**. Because wind farms are constantly being expanded or newly commissioned, **exact rankings can vary over time**, and different sources sometimes aggregate neighboring projects differently. The capacities listed are **best estimates** from publicly available information and may not reflect the most recent expansions. Nonetheless, this overview provides a sense of which projects currently dominate wind power generation worldwide.
---
## Top 50 Largest Wind Farms (Approximate Ranking by Capacity)
| **Rank** | **Wind Farm** | **Country** | **Approx. Capacity (MW)** | **Notes** |
|----------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **1** | **Gansu (Jiuquan) Wind Farm** | China | 10,000+ (planned up to 20,000) | Often cited as the world’s largest onshore wind project; multiple phases and developers. |
| **2** | **Hami Wind Farm (various projects)** | China | 8,000+ (phased) | Large wind base in Xinjiang, part of China’s push for massive renewable energy “mega-bases.” |
| **3** | **Inner Mongolia Wind Base** | China | 7,000+ (phased) | Consists of multiple projects across Inner Mongolia; cumulative capacity in the multi-GW range. |
| **4** | **Jaisalmer Wind Park** | India | ~1,600 | Among India’s largest onshore projects, located in Rajasthan’s desert region. |
| **5** | **Alta Wind Energy Center** | United States | ~1,550 | Situated in Tehachapi Pass, California; developed in multiple phases by Terra-Gen Power. |
| **6** | **Muppandal Wind Farm** | India | ~1,500 | Located in Tamil Nadu; one of the earliest and largest wind installations in India. |
| **7** | **Roscoe Wind Farm** | United States | ~780–800 | Located in Texas, once the largest onshore wind farm globally upon completion of its phases. |
| **8** | **Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center** | United States | ~735 | Another major Texas wind site developed by NextEra Energy. |
| **9** | **Shepherds Flat Wind Farm** | United States | ~845 | Located in Oregon; developed by Caithness Energy with GE turbines, supplying California utilities. |
| **10** | **Capricorn Ridge Wind Farm** | United States | ~660 | Situated in Sterling and Coke counties, Texas; owned by NextEra Energy. |
| **11** | **Walney Wind Farm (Walney + Extension)**| United Kingdom | ~1,000+ combined | Offshore in the Irish Sea; Walney Extension alone is ~659 MW, but additional phases push total higher. |
| **12** | **London Array** | United Kingdom | 630 | Offshore in the Thames Estuary; once the world’s largest operational offshore wind farm. |
| **13** | **Greater Gabbard** | United Kingdom | 504 | Offshore wind farm located off the Suffolk coast in the North Sea. |
| **14** | **Fowler Ridge Wind Farm** | United States | ~750 | Located in Indiana; owned by BP Alternative Energy and Dominion Resources. |
| **15** | **Bardia Wind Farm (Rajasthan projects)**| India | ~600+ (combined) | Rajasthan hosts multiple large wind projects near the Bardia region, developed by various companies. |
| **16** | **Xcel Energy Colorado Projects** | United States | ~600+ (scattered) | Xcel operates numerous wind farms in Colorado (e.g., Cedar Creek, Rush Creek) totaling > 600 MW. |
| **17** | **Hornsea One Offshore Wind Farm** | United Kingdom | 1,218 | A massive new addition in the North Sea, surpassing many older offshore projects (fully commissioned). |
| **18** | **Anholt Offshore Wind Farm** | Denmark | 400 | Developed by Ørsted in the Kattegat; among Denmark’s larger offshore farms. |
| **19** | **Gemini Wind Farm** | Netherlands | 600 | Offshore project in the North Sea, off the coast of Groningen. |
| **20** | **Sherbino Wind Farm** | United States | 600+ | Located in Pecos County, Texas; developed in phases by BP and others. |
| **21** | **Los Vientos Wind Farm** | United States | ~900 (multiple phases) | A cluster of projects in Starr County, Texas, developed by Duke Energy. |
| **22** | **Red Hills Wind Farm** | United States | ~200 (smaller individually) | In Oklahoma; multiple expansions. Combined capacity is smaller but part of a broader group. |
| **23** | **North Hoyle & Nearby Offshore Farms** | United Kingdom | ~1,000+ (regional grouping) | Includes multiple adjacent sites in the Irish Sea, developed in phases. |
| **24** | **Statoil’s Sheringham Shoal** | United Kingdom | 317 | Offshore wind farm near Sheringham, Norfolk, co-owned by Equinor and partners. |
| **25** | **Offshore Wind Farm Egmond aan Zee** | Netherlands | 108 | Early Dutch offshore project; part of ongoing expansions along the Dutch coast. |
| **26** | **Macarthur Wind Farm** | Australia | 420 | One of Australia’s largest wind farms; located in Victoria, co-owned by AGL. |
| **27** | **Waubra Wind Farm** | Australia | 192 | In Victoria, owned by Acciona; historically among the largest in the Southern Hemisphere at launch. |
| **28** | **Horns Rev Offshore Wind Farms** | Denmark | ~600+ combined | A series of projects (Horns Rev 1, 2, 3) off the Danish North Sea coast. |
| **29** | **Lake Turkana Wind Power** | Kenya | 310 | Largest wind farm in Africa, harnessing strong winds near Lake Turkana. |
| **30** | **Boti Wind Farm** | China | ~300 (phased) | One of many sizable Chinese onshore developments, cumulatively adding up to large capacity. |
| **31** | **Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm** | China | 102 (initial) ~250+ (expanded) | China’s first large-scale offshore wind project near Shanghai; expansions are ongoing. |
| **32** | **Huitengxile Wind Farm** | China | 300+ | Inner Mongolia region; strong wind resources on the Mongolian plateau. |
| **33** | **Chokecherry and Sierra Madre** | United States | 1,000–3,000 (planned) | Wyoming-based project under development, aiming to become one of the largest in North America. |
| **34** | **Meikle Wind Farm** | Canada | 180 | British Columbia’s largest wind farm, harnessing mountain winds. |
| **35** | **Rattlesnake Wind Project** | United States | ~200 | Part of a cluster in Texas; new expansions under construction. |
| **36** | **South Plains Wind Farm** | United States | 400+ | Located in Floyd County, Texas; developed by Tri Global Energy and others. |
| **37** | **Woolnorth Wind Farm** | Australia | ~300 total (various sites) | Three separate sites (Studland Bay, The Bluff, etc.) in Tasmania, owned by Hydro Tasmania. |
| **38** | **Thanet Offshore Wind Farm** | United Kingdom | 300 | In the North Sea, off the coast of Kent; once the largest offshore wind farm when inaugurated. |
| **39** | **EnBW Baltic 2** | Germany | 288 | Baltic Sea offshore wind farm, representing Germany’s move toward offshore renewables. |
| **40** | **Borkum Riffgrund (1 & 2)** | Germany | ~600 combined | Offshore projects developed by Ørsted in the German North Sea. |
| **41** | **Rampion Wind Farm** | United Kingdom | 400+ | Offshore wind project off the Sussex coast, developed by RWE and partners. |
| **42** | **Saint-Nazaire Offshore Wind Farm** | France | 480 (planned/operational) | First large-scale offshore wind farm in France, located off the Atlantic coast. |
| **43** | **Biglow Canyon Wind Farm** | United States | 450 | Oregon-based onshore site owned by Portland General Electric. |
| **44** | **Te Rere Hau Wind Farm** | New Zealand | ~50 (modest size) | Smaller capacity but notable as part of NZ’s high share of renewables; expansions possible. |
| **45** | **Shirawaki and Other Projects** | Japan | <100 each but cumulatively >300 | Japan’s mountainous terrain leads to smaller individual farms; cumulatively significant. |
| **46** | **Danish Kriegers Flak** | Denmark | 604 (expected) | Large offshore wind area in the Baltic Sea, part of Denmark’s ongoing offshore expansion. |
| **47** | **Edinbane Wind Farm** | Scotland (UK) | 41 (smaller) | One of many wind farms on the Isle of Skye; included for geographic diversity. |
| **48** | **Braes of Doune Wind Farm** | Scotland (UK) | 72 | A typical UK onshore farm; many 30–100 MW projects exist across Scotland. |
| **49** | **Rio do Fogo Wind Farm** | Brazil | 49 | Brazil is rapidly expanding wind power, mostly in coastal and high-wind regions of the northeast. |
| **50** | **Cerro de Hula Wind Farm** | Honduras | 126 | Central America’s largest wind project for some time; crucial for local energy diversification. |
---
### Key Observations
1. **China’s Dominance**
- China hosts multiple **mega-scale** wind bases (such as Gansu, Hami, and Inner Mongolia) that each surpass the gigawatt scale. The Gansu (Jiuquan) Wind Farm alone has a target capacity of up to **20 GW**, dwarfing most single-site projects in other countries.
2. **United States and India**
- Both countries have vast onshore wind resources. Texas in the U.S. and states like Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu in India feature prominently in the top rankings.
- **Multiple multi-gigawatt** onshore wind clusters exist in these regions.
3. **Offshore Wind Expansion**
- **The United Kingdom** leads with large offshore farms like Walney Extension, Hornsea One, and London Array.
- Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and other European nations are also aggressively expanding their offshore capacity. China is catching up fast with large offshore projects near its eastern coast.
4. **Global Proliferation**
- Wind projects now span every inhabited continent. Countries like **Brazil**, **Kenya**, **Australia**, and **Canada** each have significant wind farms, illustrating wind power’s universal appeal.
5. **Future Growth**
- Many sites in the top 50 are still **under expansion** or part of broader multi-phase complexes. Large new offshore projects (e.g., in the U.S. Northeast, Taiwan, South Korea) could rapidly climb into top positions once completed.
- As turbine technology advances (with 10–15 MW turbines becoming common offshore), the capacity of individual wind farms will continue to grow.
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### Additional Notes
- **Variations in Reporting**: Some sources aggregate multiple nearby wind developments under a single name (e.g., “Gansu Wind Farm” or “Hami Wind Base”), while others break them down into separate projects.
- **Capacity vs. Generation**: This list is based on **installed capacity** (megawatts, MW), not actual electricity output. Real-world generation can vary depending on wind conditions, turbine technology, and grid constraints.
- **Ongoing Updates**: Wind energy is one of the fastest-changing sectors in renewable power. Rankings above are approximate and may shift as projects expand or new wind farms surpass existing ones.
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**In summary**, global wind power continues to scale up dramatically, with **onshore “mega-bases”** in places like China and the U.S. dominating total capacity. At the same time, **offshore wind** is emerging as a major contributor, especially in Europe (and increasingly in China and the U.S.). The top 50 wind farms listed here underscore how wind has become a central pillar of international efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition to sustainable energy systems.
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