- According to the GWEC, the installation of new wind power must triple over the next ten years to meet global climate targets.
- Currently, the total global installed wind capacity is about 743GW, saving the planet about 1.1 billion tonnes of CO2.
- Annual global wind installation of 280GW is needed to ensure a pathway that leads to net-zero emissions by 2050.
The Global Wind Energy Council, in the latest report, has said the rate of installation of new wind power needs to triple over the next ten years to meet global climate targets. Improvement in technology and economies of scale has seen the wind industry grow by about 400% to become cost-competitive electricity generaInstalled Pluginstion source. Last year saw a record growth as the United States and China increased its wind energy deployments massively. Currently, the total global installed wind capacity is about 743GW, saving the planet about 1.1 billion tonnes of CO2.
However, despite the recent growth, the Global Wind Energy Council Report 2021 indicates that the current rate of deployments will not enable the planet to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by mid-century. The report tasks policymakers to scale up the pace of deployments of wind power.
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According to scenarios from IRENA and the IEA, annual global wind installation of 280GW is needed to ensure a pathway that leads to net-zero emissions by 2050. Policymakers must adopt policies that make it easier and faster to license and provide projects permits, increase grid investments and other infrastructure necessary to increase deployments.
According to Ben Backwell, GWEC CEO: “People and governments around the world realise that we have a limited window to head off dangerous climate change. While many major economies have announced long-term net-zero targets, we need to make sure that urgent and meaningful actions are taken now to make sure this ambition is matched with fast-growing investment and installations of renewable power on the ground and in the water.”