India ranked fifth amongst top ten wind power producers in the world by adding 1,700 MW capacity in 2013, a report said.

“China was the leading wind power producer by adding 16,100 MW capacity in 2013, followed by USA, Germany and Spain,” Renewables 2014 Global Status Report said.

By the end of 2013, China, the US, Brazil, Canada and Germany remained the top countries for total installed renewable power capacity, the report said.

According to the report, over the past few years the costs of electricity generation from onshore wind and particularly solar PV (photo-voltaic) have fallen sharply which has resulted in an increase in wind and solar power projects being built without public financial support.

In terms of annual investment in the wind energy sector and production, China ranked number one followed by Germany, UK, India and Canada.

Worldwide more than 35,000 MW wind power capacity was added taking the total number to 3,18,000 MW in 2013 to which India contributed 1,700 MW.

“The wind industry continued to be challenged by downward pressure on prices, increased competition among turbine manufacturers, decline in key markets among other reasons,” it added.

About 40,000 MW of new hydro power capacity was commissioned in 2013 increasing the total global capacity by 4 per cent to approximately 1,000,000 MW.

By far the most capacity was commissioned in China (29,000 MW), with significant capacity also added in Turkey, Brazil, Vietnam, India and Russia.

India, which added more than 4,000 MW renewable capacity in 2013 also plans to increase the capacity to 55,000 MW by 2017 from the current level of around 30,000 MW.