In its Global Wind Report, Annual Market Update, GWEC said it expects a surge in installations in the US following a fallow year, while strong growth in Brazil and China are also expected to drive the increase.
However, the predicted growth would come from a low base following a wan year when installations fell by more than 20% to 35.3GW.
GWEC said that global market growth is expected to stabilise through to 2018, leading to "a period of steady but unspectacular growth".
China once again topped global installations, with 16.1GW installed last year. Germany and the UK followed with 3.2GW and 1.9GW respectively. The US only managed 1.1GW following 12GW in 2012.
However, the US is expected to experience a resurgence in installations after the massive drop off last year due to the anticipation of the ending of the production tax credit (PTC) subsidy at the end of 2012. The reintroduction of the subsidy and the changing of the rules to qualify in order for projects to qualify led to more projects under construction in the country at the start of the year than at any other time.
But countries outside the OECD are expected to provide most of the growth, with GWEC secretary general Steve Sawyer saying: "It's much easier for wind to get strong market share in a dynamic and growing economy with significant demand growth."
GWEC said that China is likely to exceed its target of hitting a cumulative capacity of 200GW by 2020, which would rely on annual installations of 15.6GW a year.
Brazil may move up to third or fourth in the global rankings for installations with a record year, while "hundreds of megawatts" are expected to be added in South Africa.
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