- The GWEC has launched an initiative to accelerate the deployment of wind energy in Africa.
- The GWEC will facilitate cooperation between developers and governments.
- Only 0.01% of Africa’s wind energy potential is being utilised.
The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) is set to launch a new initiative, the Africa WindPower Initiative (AWP), to accelerate wind energy development on the continent. The GWEC will, through the initiative facilitate cooperation between African governments and wind energy producers and investors.
Ben Backwell, GWEC’s executive director, stated: “Africa has already begun its transition to a clean energy future, but this process is moving far too slowly, with fossil fuels playing too large a role. Countries on the continent have the essential ingredients to develop thriving local wind industries, which would bring significant jobs and economic growth to diverse communities,” says
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) puts the continent’s wind potential at over 59,000GW, about 250 times the current energy demand. According to GWEC, in 2020, only 821MW of new wind capacity was installed in the Middle East and Africa (only about 0.01% of the continent’s wind energy potential)
The EU’s GET.Invest also supports the AWP initiative. GET.Invest focuses on private sector investment in clean energy development.