Last week, Spain’s wind energy generation hit 27% of the country's demands. Meanwhile, Singapore and Abu Dhabi are tipping millions into clean energy.

Spain’s efforts contradict the critics who say wind power’s contribution should be minimal because generation fluctuations would destabilise the entire grid. This occurred without any stability issues.

Activist group Beyond Zero Emissions said Australia had overwhelming potential to follow in Spain's footsteps.

"Australia is 15 times the size of Spain, with only half of Spain's population. Australia has a phenomenal capacity for wind generation that remains untapped," it said in a statement last week.

"The Global Wind Energy Council reported a record boom in the wind energy markets across 70 countries for 2006. Despite formidable political barriers, wind power has earned a place as a mainstream energy source."

Spain's installed wind power capacity is the second highest in the world at 11.6GW and has an aim of 20GW (30% of its electricity) by 2010. The country is also adding a further 2GW this year by replacing older technology.

At the sub-national level, regions including Navarra have aimed to source 100% of their energy requirements from renewables by 2010.

Meanwhile, Singapore has announced it is investing more than $US110 million ($ 136 million) to develop a solar energy industry.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told reporters the move came as renewable technology grew on the global agenda, and he expects more investment opportunities will come.

In addition Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, has begun construction on a 500MW solar power plant that is part of the state's bid to become a centre for the development and implementation of clean energy technology. Its government has already dedicated $US350 million to the giant solar power project.