http://www.newenergyworldnetwork.com/renewable-energy-news/by-technology/wind/wind-market-drops-for-first-time-in-20-years.html

The 2010 wind market shrank by seven per cent in 2010, as it witnessed its first decline in 20 years, due to a disappointing year in the US and a slowdown in Europe.

The US – historically one of the strongest markets for wind – saw its annual installations drop by 50 per cent from 10GW in 2009 to just over 5GW in 2010, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).
The financial crisis, low levels of wind turbine orders and depressed OECD electricity demand exacerbated problems even further.
In Europe, new installed capacity in 2010 was down 7.5 per cent on 2009, despite a 50 per cent growth of the offshore market in countries such as the UK, Belgium and Denmark.
Christian Kjaer, CEO of the European Wind Energy Association, said the figures are a warning that we cannot take for granted the continued financing of renewable energy. ‘These figures are a warning that we cannot take for granted the continued financing of renewable energy,’ he said.
‘Better access to financing is urgently needed, and the European Union must act without delay to prevent Europe losing its leadership in wind power and other renewable technologies.’
These figures come despite global wind power installations increasing by 35.GW in 2010, bringing the total wind energy capacity up to 194.4GW.