Global Wind Energy Council

What Global Wind Energy Council does

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) is a private, membership-based international trade association founded in 2005 and headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, with regional offices in Singapore (Asia), Lancing/England (UK), Brussels (EU policy), and Nairobi (Africa). Its membership spans more than 1,500 companies, organisations, and institutions across 80+ countries, covering the full wind energy value chain — turbine manufacturers (e.g., Vestas, GE Vernova, Siemens Energy, Goldwind, ENERCON, Mingyang), project developers (Ørsted, Iberdrola, CIP, ACWA Power), component suppliers, finance and insurance firms, research institutes, and national wind associations. The organisation is governed by a Board and Executive Committee drawn from major member companies, with Michael Hannibal (CIP) as Chair and Girish Tanti as Vice Chair.

Revenue is generated through three streams: annual corporate and association membership subscriptions tiered by member turnover (Global Leader/Influencer at Euro 100m+ turnover, Global Player at Euro 10–100m, Global Supporter under Euro 10m, plus association tiers AC1/AC2/A1/A2 by continental representation and installed capacity); event revenues from summits, workshops, and regional task force meetings (e.g., APAC Summit, Global Offshore Wind Summit Japan, WindEnergy Hamburg); and subscription-based market intelligence products. Core outputs include the annual Global Wind Report and Global Offshore Wind Report, the GWEC Market Intelligence platform, the Wind and Energy Security Tracker, the Women in Wind Global Leadership Program (launched 2019 with GWNET), and policy advocacy at the UNFCCC COP process, IRENA, IEA, and REN21, where GWEC serves as the recognized industry interlocutor and co-leads the Global Offshore Wind Alliance with IRENA.

Name

Global Wind Energy Council

Legal name

Global Wind Energy Council

Website

https://gwec.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) is a private, membership-based international trade association representing over 1,500 wind-energy companies across 80+ countries, providing policy advocacy at UNFCCC, IRENA, and IEA, plus market intelligence reports, industry events, and capacity-building programs for manufacturers, developers, and national associations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Energy Trade Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environment, Climate & Sustainable Development IGOs (BPADAAAI)

Keywords

• Wind energy advocacy
• Renewable energy policy
• Trade association
• Offshore wind market intelligence
• Wind industry research

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Fees: GWEC generates revenue primarily through membership fees from corporate members (Global Leader, Global Influencer, Global Player, Global Supporter tiers) and association members (AC1, AC2, A1, A2 tiers). Annual membership fees are structured based on company turnover levels.
2. Event Revenue: GWEC organizes summits, conferences, and workshops including APAC Summit, Global Offshore Wind Summit Japan, and regional events that generate revenue through delegate fees, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees.
3. Market Intelligence Subscriptions: GWEC Market Intelligence provides reports, databases, and analysis accessible via membership, including the Global Wind Report, Global Offshore Wind Report, and regional market outlooks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GWEC is a member-based international trade association representing the entire wind energy sector. It provides policy advocacy at the highest international political level (UNFCCC COP, IRENA, IEA), authoritative market research (Global Wind Report, Global Offshore Wind Report), market intelligence subscriptions, industry events and summits, and regional advocacy initiatives (GWEC Africa, Asia, India, LatAm) for over 1,500 member companies across 80+ countries.

Product overview

GWEC operates as a member-based trade association offering a portfolio of research publications, market intelligence services, and industry initiatives. The core products include the annual Global Wind Report and Global Offshore Wind Report, which provide authoritative market analysis and forecasts. GWEC Market Intelligence offers subscription-based research and insights accessible through a members-only portal. Regional initiatives including Africa WindPower, GWEC Asia, GWEC India, and GWEC LatAm provide localized advocacy and market development support. Additional offerings include the Women in Wind Global Leadership Program, Wind and Energy Security Tracker, Offshore Wind Resource Hub, and Wind & Green Recovery Hub. These products collectively support the wind industry's growth through policy advocacy, capacity building, and information sharing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Global Wind Report Annual comprehensive report providing authoritative analysis, review, and forecast of the global wind industry, covering installations, capacity additions, and market trends.
• Global Offshore Wind Report Annual definitive guide covering the entire global offshore wind sector, including market analysis, project pipelines, and policy recommendations for offshore wind development.
• GWEC Market Intelligence Members-only subscription platform providing regular insights on wind sector development including market outlooks, country profiles, policy updates, and offshore market deep-dives.
• Wind and Energy Security Tracker Online tracker providing updates on energy security issues impacting the wind industry across the globe.
• Women in Wind Global Leadership Program Initiative launched in 2019 to accelerate careers of women in wind industry, supporting their pathway to leadership positions through mentorship, networking, and training.
• Offshore Wind Resource Hub Comprehensive resource center providing information and analysis on offshore wind policy and development.
• Africa WindPower GWEC's initiative to accelerate wind power deployment in Africa, providing a bridge between government stakeholders, developers, and the financial community.
• GWEC Asia Regional body building unified alliance of local industry players advocating for wind power benefits through strategic dialogue with governments and stakeholders across Asia-Pacific.
• GWEC India Single advocacy and research body representing India's entire wind industry value chain, working with central and state governments to improve the enabling environment for sector growth.
• GWEC LatAm Regional initiative positioning wind energy as a key solution for clean energy transition and accelerated electrification in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Wind & Green Recovery Hub Online hub providing resources and policy guidance on wind energy's role in economic recovery and sustainable development.
• Africa Wind Energy Handbook Comprehensive step-by-step guide for policymakers and stakeholders on developing wind energy markets in Africa.

Quantifiable outcome

• 165 GW record new wind capacity installed globally in 2025, 40% increase year-on-year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and supporting.

• Vietnam National AssemblystrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026GWEC CEO Ben Backwell led delegation to meet National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Hong Dien in Hanoi to discuss cooperation in renewable energy development and Vietnam's green energy transition.
• Turkish Wind Energy Association (TÜREB)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026GWEC and TÜREB launched formal partnership to accelerate wind power and renewables ahead of COP31. Partnership aims to build cross-sector advocacy coalition and organize joint interventions to strengthen wind energy's role in renewables transition.
• Japan Wind Power Association (JWPA)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026GWEC and JWPA signed MOU to advance offshore wind in Japan. Partnership aims to strengthen Japan's offshore wind development through industry-government dialogue and knowledge sharing.
• The Copper MarkstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2025GWEC signed MOU with The Copper Mark to advance responsible production and sourcing of critical minerals for the clean energy transition. Partnership aims to build resilient and sustainable supply chains by sharing expertise and supporting harmonised ESG and traceability standards.
• IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWEC partners with IRENA as a key institutional partner. GWEC drives initiatives in offshore wind with IRENA, and more than 20 national governments through the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA). IRENA promotes widespread adoption of renewable energy including wind energy for sustainable development.
• International Energy Agency (IEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWEC collaborates with IEA which provides authoritative analysis, data, policy recommendations and solutions to ensure energy security and help the world transition to clean energy.
• UNFCCCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWEC leads renewable energy delegations at the UNFCCC COP process. The UNFCCC secretariat supports global response to climate change through international climate agreements including the Paris Agreement.
• REN21coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWEC works with REN21, the only global renewable energy community of actors from science, governments, NGOs and industry providing up-to-date and peer-reviewed facts on global renewable energy developments.
• Global Renewables Alliance (GRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWEC is a founding member of GRA which builds relationships across six renewable energy industries to drive broader RE agenda with powerful cross-technology, high-level advocacy voice at key institutions.
• Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWEC co-leads GOWA with IRENA and Danish Government, engaging with more than 20 national and sub-national governments on climate diplomacy and increasing climate ambition on offshore wind globally.
• Ocean Energy Pathway (OEP)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWEC partners with OEP which uses philanthropic money to expand technical assistance delivery to governments and brings together industry and NGOs to unlock socio-economic barriers to offshore wind.
• Global Women's Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWEC partnered with GWNET to launch the Women in Wind Global Leadership Program in 2019, designed to accelerate careers of women in wind industry and support their pathway to leadership positions.
• GET.investsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGET.invest is a European programme supporting investments in decentralised renewable energy, targeting private sector business, project developers, financiers and regulators to build sustainable energy markets. GWEC Africa connects with GET.invest for market information and matchmaking.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Global Renewables Alliance (GRA):
• BloombergNEF (BNEF): Leading provider of energy market research and intelligence globally, including flagship New Energy Outlook and wind-specific market outlooks. Comparable to GWEC's Market Intelligence subscription product but commercially focused and broader across all energy technologies.

Direct peers

• SolarPower Europe: Solar industry's leading European trade association, structurally identical to GWEC: membership-based, publishes annual flagship reports (Global Market Outlook), engages in EU policy advocacy, and runs industry events. Same business model applied to a competing renewable technology.
• American Clean Power Association (ACP): The leading US trade association for wind, solar, and storage, formed via merger of American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) with solar and storage bodies. Directly comparable to GWEC as a national-level wind/clean power industry association serving a major market.
• WindEurope: Was the European wind energy trade association representing the wind industry in Europe with similar membership, events (WindEnergy Hamburg), and policy advocacy role. Most direct historical peer to GWEC, though Europe-focused rather than global.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA): Intergovernmental organization promoting solar energy adoption globally, co-founded by India and France. Comparable to GWEC in mission scope (international renewable energy advocacy) and structure (multi-country governance), though focused on solar rather than wind.

Regional players

• Clean Energy Council (CEC): Australia's peak industry body for clean energy, including wind, solar, and storage. Comparable membership model, policy advocacy approach, and product suite (market reports, events, certification) but focused on the Australian market rather than global.
• Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA): National trade association for wind, solar, and energy storage in Canada, formed via merger of CanWEA and Canadian Solar Industries Association. Same industry-association structure and wind-energy focus as GWEC, but geographically restricted to Canada.
• ABEEólica (Brazilian Wind Energy Association): National wind energy trade association representing Brazil's wind industry. Comparable to GWEC's GWEC LatAm division in scope and mission, but operates as an independent Brazilian association rather than as part of a global federation.

Broad incumbents

• IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency): Intergovernmental organization supporting renewable energy adoption globally, official GWEC partner and co-lead of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance. Overlapping mission in international renewable energy advocacy and data publication, though IRENA is governmental rather than membership-funded.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-wind-energy-council
• Xx.com/GWECGlobalWind
• Facebookfacebook.com/GlobalWindEnergyCouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Wind Energy Council