China doubled the amount of energy generated from windmills last year, the Global Wind Energy Council said in a report Wednesday.

The sector grew rapidly last year - with total wind capacity up 31 percent - despite the economic downturn, the council said.

The market for new wind turbines was worth US$63 billion in 2009, it said.

China became the biggest market for new wind turbines last year, as it doubled power capacity from 12 gigawatts to 25 gigawatts. The country is turning to renewable energy as its growing economy calls for more power.

China is aiming to raise that sixfold - to 150 gigawatts - by 2020. The Chinese Renewable Energy Industries' Association says it could hit that target far earlier.

But wind power still accounts for only 1.5 percent of China's total electricity consumption.

The United States still ranks as the world's largest user of wind power, the council said, but it expects China to overtake Germany for the No. 2 spot this year.

Steve Sawyer, the group's secretary general, said wind energy is growing mainly because governments have made it a priority in economic stimulus programs.