With 80 countries now using wind power on a commercial basis, wind generates 1.5 percent of the world's electricity, up from 0.1 percent in 1997, according to Washington-based research group Worldwatch Institute.

The United States is the world's leading wind power generator, accounting for 42 percent of new energy capacity. China ranked second with 6,300 megawatts installed during 2008 and India was third with 1,800 megawatts added.

The global market for wind turbine installations in 2008 was worth about $47.5 billion, an increase of approximately 42 percent over 2007. The economic crisis slowed development but economic stimulus packages identify wind as a key growth area.