Mismatch of wind power capacity and generation: causing factors, GHG emissions and potential policy responses

• Drivers of capacity utilisation in wind power are identified.
• This is a neglected theme in social science and policy research on climate and renewables.
• Countries studied include China, US, Germany and Spain for the period 2005–2011.
• Policy recommendations to improve capacity utilisation of wind power are provided.
• Consequences for GHG emissions are qualitatively assessed.

Policies to assure combatting climate change and realising energy security have stimulated a rapid growth in global installed capacity of renewable energy generation. The expansion of power generation from renewables, though, has so far lagged behind the growth in generation capacity. This indicates missed and relatively cheap opportunities to reduce GHG emissions. This paper sheds light on the mismatch between installed capacity and power generation for the case of wind power. It analyses and compares wind power developments in the four countries that contributed most to the increase in wind power capacity during the last decade: namely, China, the United States, Germany and Spain. We estimate the dynamics of capacity utilisation of wind power installations and identify its drivers. Finally, we identify potential policies to reduce the gap between power capacity and generation, which will contribute to cost-effective reduction of GHG emissions.