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Last year was one of the most influential years on record for the global wind power industry. Capacity grew by almost a fifth (19%) compared with 2018. There was a boom in onshore and offshore wind farms in China and the United States. Wind power capacity in 2019 grew by...

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The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has launched Africa WindPower (“AWP”) to address a clear need for a regional body representing the wind industry. AWP offers a platform for dialogue between Africa’s wind industry and government stakeholders, with the ultimate goal of scaling up and accelerating wind project development and deployment across the entire African continent. With sufficient investment appetite already in place, the development of fit-for-purpose government policy and regulation for the energy transition is necessary to unlock private investment from both within and outside of the continent. Despite an early start for wind energy in Africa, wind energy deployment has often been held back as fossil fuel generation sources such as natural gas continue to make inroads in some markets, and coal, heavy fuel oil, and diesel remain a large part of the energy mix. A recent report commissioned by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) shows that Africa has 59,000 GW of technical onshore and offshore wind potential, enough to meet the continent’s energy demand 250 times over. Building out wind farms that utilize Africa’s vast wind resources will drive investment, create clean energy jobs and critical infrastructure, and help support thriving local economies in line with the region’s Sustainable Development Goals. The time for a wind-powered Africa has come; Africa WindPower is here to help make it happen. That message is supported by many entities including the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the World Bank Group’s IFC, African Ministries of Energy and National Utilities, National Associations, leading wind energy companies, local wind developers and investors,  community leaders and youth climate activists. They’ve joined forces to deliver the message that the time for wind energy for Africa has come. (Please see full list of Africa WindPower Launch Event Speakers below) Ben Backwell, GWEC CEO commented: “Africa has already begun its transition to a clean energy future, but this process is moving far too slowly with incumbent fossil fuels playing too prominent a role. Countries across the continent have the crucial ingredients to develop thriving local wind industries, which would bring significant jobs and economic growth to diverse communities. Despite what we are hearing on the world stage ahead of COP26, it is not only ‘Climate Finance’ but greater collaboration between the private and public sectors that will drive Africa’s energy transition and increase access to reliable sources of electricity.” GWEC’s latest data shows that Africa is only tapping into 0.01 per cent of its wind resource, with over 7 GW of installed capacity as of the end of 2020, led by South Africa. Current installed wind energy capacity in Africa helps to avoid 10.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually – equivalent to taking 2.3 million passenger cars off the road. Wangari Muchiri, Africa WindPower Coordinator, added: “Africa has the opportunity to leapfrog traditional fossil-fuel-based energy systems to achieve a robust renewable energy mix. Wind Power is a vital part of this clean energy transition allowing for decentralized, affordable and clean energy. In addition, Africa boasts fantastic wind resources which can power the continent 250 times over while creating jobs and enabling the development of local industries. GWEC's Africa WindPower will bring various stakeholders together to decrease the knowledge gap and increase the development and deployment of wind power throughout the continent.” Africa WindPower is supported by GET.invest, a European program that aims to mobilise investment in renewable energy, supported by the European Union, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Austria. Read the full article

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has launched Africa WindPower (“AWP”) to address a clear need for a regional body representing the wind industry. AWP offers a platform for dialogue between Africa’s wind industry and government stakeholders, with the ultimate goal of scaling up and accelerating wind project development and deployment across the entire African continent. With sufficient investment appetite already in place, the development of fit-for-purpose government policy and regulation for the energy transition is necessary to unlock private investment from both within and outside of the continent. Despite an early start for wind energy in Africa, wind energy deployment has often been held back as fossil fuel generation sources such as natural gas continue to make inroads in some markets, and coal, heavy fuel oil, and diesel remain a large part of the energy mix. A recent report commissioned by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) shows that Africa has 59,000 GW of technical onshore and offshore wind potential, enough to meet the continent’s energy demand 250 times over. Building out wind farms that utilize Africa’s vast wind resources will drive investment, create clean energy jobs and critical infrastructure, and help support thriving local economies in line with the region’s Sustainable Development Goals. The time for a wind-powered Africa has come; Africa WindPower is here to help make it happen. That message is supported by many entities including the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the World Bank Group’s IFC, African Ministries of Energy and National Utilities, National Associations, leading wind energy companies, local wind developers and investors,  community leaders and youth climate activists. They’ve joined forces to deliver the message that the time for wind energy for Africa has come. (Please see full list of Africa WindPower Launch Event Speakers below) Ben Backwell, GWEC CEO commented: “Africa has already begun its transition to a clean energy future, but this process is moving far too slowly with incumbent fossil fuels playing too prominent a role. Countries across the continent have the crucial ingredients to develop thriving local wind industries, which would bring significant jobs and economic growth to diverse communities. Despite what we are hearing on the world stage ahead of COP26, it is not only ‘Climate Finance’ but greater collaboration between the private and public sectors that will drive Africa’s energy transition and increase access to reliable sources of electricity.” GWEC’s latest data shows that Africa is only tapping into 0.01 per cent of its wind resource, with over 7 GW of installed capacity as of the end of 2020, led by South Africa. Current installed wind energy capacity in Africa helps to avoid 10.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually – equivalent to taking 2.3 million passenger cars off the road. Wangari Muchiri, Africa WindPower Coordinator, added: “Africa has the opportunity to leapfrog traditional fossil-fuel-based energy systems to achieve a robust renewable energy mix. Wind Power is a vital part of this clean energy transition allowing for decentralized, affordable and clean energy. In addition, Africa boasts fantastic wind resources which can power the continent 250 times over while creating jobs and enabling the development of local industries. GWEC's Africa WindPower will bring various stakeholders together to decrease the knowledge gap and increase the development and deployment of wind power throughout the continent.” Africa WindPower is supported by GET.invest, a European program that aims to mobilise investment in renewable energy, supported by the European Union, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Austria. Read the full article

GWEC and IRENA announced a new UN Global Compact to advance SDG7 on sustainable energy for all, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change. The agreement states that by 2030, IRENA and GWEC will work together to: - Increase government ambition to achieve 380 GW of offshore wind installations globally by 2030, and 2,000 GW by 2050, in line with offshore wind’s role in net zero by 2050 scenarios. - Enhance the collaboration between IRENA and GWEC to accelerate offshore wind development in this decade, through increased stakeholder engagement, capacity-building, technical assistance and support. 22 September 2021, New York, USA - The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) today announce an agenda to ensure sustainable energy for all that helps the global battle against climate change. At its heart is an ambition to increase substantially the share of offshore wind energy in the global energy mix, by 2030. The compact sets out a clear route to help governments make the fundamental changes required to achieve this ambition, and meet their own NDC goals. IRENA and GWEC’s Compact will help ensure no country or region is ‘left behind’ by the sector, and make sure untapped resource potential is developed to help the world reach its 2050 goals. The Compact sets a target of 380 GW of energy from offshore wind, installed worldwide by 2030; by 2050 the target is for 2,000 GW of offshore wind installed worldwide. As of 2020, GWEC Market Intelligence calculates 35 GW of offshore wind installed capacity globally. IRENA and GWEC have set out how they will help achieve these ambitions. Through IRENA’s Collaborative Framework on Ocean Energy/Offshore Renewables, the groups will intensify governments understanding of offshore wind, as reflected in country NDCs, and by expanding membership of the Framework more governments will be able to increase their interests in offshore wind. The Compact sets out that: “Given the project development and construction timelines for offshore wind, these interventions are urgently needed”. The Compact will also see IRENA and GWEC assess the institutional and resource gaps to help the world achieve the 2030 and 2050 targets. Twinned with an increase in outreach and dialogue with policymakers in countries new to offshore wind, these ambitions should help increase the geographical spread of the sector to help ensure the world’s 2050 target is met. How does this Compact advance SDGs by 2030?                    - Affordable electricity: new fixed-bottom offshore wind capacity is forecast to become cheaper than new fossil fuel capacity early this decade, according to BloombergNEF - Clean power for millions of homes. - Reducing carbon emissions and reducing air pollution: by replacing fossil fuel sources which can create smog, asthma and other health issues - Boosting economic growth: A 500 MW project can create 2.1 million days of work over its 25-year project lifetime. - Supporting energy security by reducing reliance on imported energy and fossil fuels, along with operating at high capacity factors and lower variability compared to other renewable energy sources; - Saving water as a displacement of water-consuming fossil fuel-based generation. Ben Backwell, CEO at GWEC commented: “This compact sets out a clear framework to support world governments as they try to reach Net Zero targets. The rapid acceleration of offshore wind development in every region of the world is vital if we are to meet our collective objectives, and the message from IRENA and GWEC is clear: World leaders, the industry is here to help you make it happen. “Offshore wind undoubtedly plays a central role in global decarbonisation plans - offering solutions for everything from reskilling workers to providing the technology to bring new solutions like green hydrogen to scale. However, these transitions will not happen without governments taking action, and this Compact will help world leaders do just that.” Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA comments: “Offshore renewables have the potential to meet more than twenty times of today’s global power demand. “Particularly, offshore renewables constitute a critical pillar for decarbonising energy systems and fostering a global blue economy, supporting economic growth and climate resilience. IRENA and GWEC have been close partners for many years. Today’s joint Energy Compact is ambitious but I believe that by joining forces we can achieve the deployment of an additional 380 GW offshore wind worldwide by 2030 and 2,000 GW by 2050.” Read the full article