Contents

E X E C U T I V E S U M M A RY 4
The Global Status of Wind Power | Drivers for Wind Energy | The World’s Wind Resources and

Grid Integration |
The Environmental Impacts of Wind Power | Global Wind Energy Outlook Scenario | Energy Policy

Issues and Recommendations
T H E G LO B A L S TAT U S O F WI N D P OWE R 8
Record Year in 2005 | Europe | North America | Asia | Latin America | Australasia | Africa |

Offshore
D R I V E R S F O R WI N D E N E RG Y 1 6
Security of Supply | Environmental Concerns | Economics | Employment and local Development |
Technology and Industrial Development
T H E WO R L D ’ S WI N D R E S O U RC E S A N D G R I D I N T E G R AT I O N 2 2
Wind Resource Assessments | Variability and Grid Integration | Issues for Integrating Wind

Power | Recent Studies
T H E E N V I RO N M E N TA L I M PAC T S O F WI N D P OWE R 2 8
Visual Impact | Noise | Wildlife – Birds | Wildlife – Bats | Offshore Wind Farms
T H E “ G LO B A L WI N D E N E RG Y O U T LO O K ” S C E N A R I O 3 6
The Scenarios | Energy Efficiency Projections | Core Results | Detailed Results | Regional

Breakdown |
Main Assumptions and Parameters | Costs and Benefits | Global Wind Energy Outlook – Research

Background
E N E RG Y P O L I C Y I S S U E S A N D R E C O M M E N DAT I O N S 5 0
Legally binding Targets for Renewable Energy | Specific Policy Mechanisms | Electricity Market

Reform |
International Action on Climate Change | Reform of International Financing | Action by

International Bodies | Policy Summary
A N N E X 5 8