Up to 20 per cent of the world’s electricity needs could be generated from wind turbines by 2030, a report by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has said.
The biennial report: Global Wind Energy Outlook highlighted that by 2030 power generated from wind could reach 2,110GW, and supply up to 20 per cent of global electricity.
This could also see the wind power industry creating 2.4 million new jobs and reducing carbon emissions by more than 3.3 billion tonnes per year, in addition to attracting an annual investment of about €200 billion or $217 billion.
The report which OGN obtained from the Council, considered future scenarios of the wind industry between 2020, 2030 and 2050. It stated that wind is the cheapest way to add capacity to the grid in a large number of markets, and that it is becoming the utility option of choice.
It equally added that very low prices across South America and Africa and in the United States are becoming the new normal, as both the technology and the industry matures and becomes more competitive.
According to GWEC’s Secretary General, Steve Sawyer in a statement: “Now that the Paris Agreement is coming into force, countries need to get serious about what they committed to last December. Meeting the Paris targets means a completely decarbonised electricity supply well before 2050, and wind power will play the major role in getting us there.”
The Council said Africa, Latin America and Asia have witnessed rising renewables markets during the last few years and could be promising areas for sustainability and energetic pivot.
In addition, Sawyer stated: “Wind power is the most competitive option for adding new capacity to the grid in a growing number of markets, but if the Paris agreement targets are to be reached, that means closing fossil fuel fired power plants and replacing them with wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass.”
Similarly, the report’s lead analyst, Sven Teske said: “Decarbonising the global energy system includes the transport sector as a major emitter of carbon.”
He explained: “The market for electric mobility, both in regard to electric vehicles as well as public transport, will continue to grow significantly and with this electricity demand for the transport sector.
“Wind power is in a pole position to supply this future power demand making the wind industry one of the key industries of the energy sector.”
