The ten largest operational wind farms in the world, ranked by installed capacity from China's multi-GW Gansu complex to the offshore Hornsea wind farms in the North Sea.
Quick answer: 1. Gansu Wind Farm (Jiuquan), 2. Jaisalmer Wind Park, 3. Alta Wind Energy Center, 4. Muppandal Wind Farm, 5. Hornsea Two Offshore Wind Farm, 6. Hornsea One Offshore Wind Farm, 7. Dogger Bank Wind Farm (Phase A), 8. Markbygden Wind Farm, 9. Shepherds Flat Wind Farm, 10. Roscoe Wind Farm.
Wind power has grown into one of the largest sources of renewable electricity worldwide, with global installed capacity exceeding 1,000 GW in 2024. The largest wind farms now span hundreds of square kilometres and power millions of homes, driven by both onshore mega-bases in China and India and enormous offshore wind farms in the North Sea. This list ranks the ten largest operational wind farms in the world by their installed capacity in megawatts (MW). Both onshore and offshore projects are included. Planned or announced projects that are not yet operational are excluded.
The Gansu Wind Farm in Gansu Province, China, is the world's largest wind power project with over 7,000 MW of installed capacity. Situated in the arid desert lands of northern China, the project is part of a national plan to reach 20,000 MW. Construction began in 2009 and continues in phases, though grid transmission has been a challenge.
Jaisalmer Wind Park in Rajasthan, India, has a capacity of approximately 1,600 MW, making it one of the largest wind farms in Asia. Located in the Thar Desert, the site benefits from strong, consistent winds and flat terrain ideal for turbine placement. It was primarily developed by Suzlon Energy across multiple phases.
The Alta Wind Energy Center in Tehachapi, California, is the largest wind farm in the United States with a capacity of around 1,550 MW. Located in the Tehachapi Pass, it captures strong desert winds flowing through the mountain pass. The project supports over 450,000 homes and connects to the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project.
Muppandal Wind Farm in Tamil Nadu, India, has a capacity of approximately 1,500 MW, making it India's largest wind energy project. The site uses the strong seasonal monsoon winds that pass through the Western Ghats. Built over decades with government incentives, it is a cluster of wind farms rather than a single development.
Hornsea Two, developed by Ørsted in the North Sea, has a capacity of 1,386 MW, making it one of the world's largest offshore wind farms. It uses 165 turbines and was fully commissioned in 2022. Together with Hornsea One, the Hornsea zone is one of the largest offshore wind development areas in the world.
Hornsea One, located off the Yorkshire coast in the North Sea, is one of the world's largest fully operational offshore wind farms at 1,218 MW. It consists of 174 turbines spread across more than 400 km² of ocean, each standing over 100 metres tall. Owned by Ørsted, it supplies enough electricity for over one million UK homes.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm, located in the North Sea off the UK coast, is the world's largest offshore wind farm under development. Phase A, with a capacity of 1,200 MW, became operational in 2025. The full 3.6 GW project will be capable of powering 6 million UK homes when all phases are complete.
Located in Norrbotten County, Sweden, near the Arctic Circle, Markbygden is the largest planned wind power project in Europe. Over 1,000 MW of its target 4,000 MW capacity is already operational. The region offers steady wind conditions and minimal population density, allowing for massive turbine installations across forests and hills.
Shepherds Flat Wind Farm in Oregon, USA, has a capacity of 845 MW, making it one of the largest onshore wind farms in the United States. It uses 338 GE 2.5 MW turbines spread across 30 square miles of wheat and cattle farmland in north-central Oregon, near the Columbia River Gorge.
Roscoe Wind Farm in Texas, USA, has a capacity of 781 MW, making it one of the largest onshore wind farms in the world. Located in Nolan County, Texas, it covers nearly 100,000 acres and uses 627 wind turbines from Mitsubishi, Siemens, and GE. At the time of its completion in 2009, it was the largest wind farm in the world.
| # | Name | Location | Type | Target capacity | Operator | Developer | Status | Homes powered | Key feature | Turbines | Total project |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gansu Wind Farm (Jiuquan) | Gansu, China | Onshore | 20,000 MW | Multiple state-owned companies | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | Jaisalmer Wind Park | Rajasthan, India | Onshore | — | — | Suzlon Energy | Fully operational | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | Alta Wind Energy Center | California, USA | Onshore | — | Terra-Gen Power | — | — | ~450,000 | — | — | — |
| 4 | Muppandal Wind Farm | Tamil Nadu, India | Onshore | — | — | — | Fully operational | — | Seasonal monsoon winds | — | — |
| 5 | Hornsea Two Offshore Wind Farm | North Sea, UK | Offshore | — | Ørsted | — | — | — | — | 165 | — |
| 6 | Hornsea One Offshore Wind Farm | North Sea, UK | Offshore | — | Ørsted | — | — | — | — | 174 | — |
| 7 | Dogger Bank Wind Farm (Phase A) | North Sea, UK | Offshore | — | SSE Renewables, Equinor, Vårgrønn | — | — | — | — | — | 3,600 MW |
| 8 | Markbygden Wind Farm | Norrbotten, Sweden | Onshore | 4,000 MW | Svevind, Enercon | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | Shepherds Flat Wind Farm | Oregon, USA | Onshore | — | Caithness Energy | — | — | — | — | 338 | — |
| 10 | Roscoe Wind Farm | Texas, USA | Onshore | — | RWE/E.ON | — | — | — | — | 627 | — |
Wind farms are ranked by installed capacity in megawatts (MW) as reported by project operators, grid operators, and verified by sources including the Global Wind Energy Council, NS Energy Business, and project operator publications. Only operational wind farms — those that have been fully commissioned and connected to the grid — are included. Where a project is divided into phases, the total operational capacity of all phases is counted.
Onshore wind farms are built on land, typically in windy rural or desert areas. They are cheaper to build and maintain than offshore farms. Offshore wind farms are built in open water, where winds are stronger and more consistent. They cost significantly more to construct but produce more energy per turbine and face fewer siting restrictions.
China has the world's largest installed wind capacity, driven by aggressive national renewable energy targets, vast desert land with excellent wind resources, a strong domestic turbine manufacturing industry, and state-backed investment in large-scale renewable bases. The Gansu Wind Farm complex alone is part of a plan to create multiple 10+ GW renewable energy bases in inland provinces.
Large offshore wind farms typically take 3-5 years from final investment decision to full commissioning. The process includes seabed surveys, foundation installation, turbine installation, cable laying, and grid connection. The Dogger Bank project, for example, began construction in 2020 and its first phase became operational in 2025.