The 'Global Wind Energy Outlook 2008', published by the Global
Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and Greenpeace International, looks at
the global potential of wind power up to 2050 and found that it
could play a key part in achieving a decline in emissions by 2020,
which the IPCC indicates is necessary to avoid the worst
consequences of climate change. By 2020, wind power could save as
much as 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2 every year, which would add up to
over 10 billion tonnes in this timeframe. The report also explains
how wind energy can provide up to 30 percent of the world's
electricity by the middle of the century.
"We only have a few years to achieve a decline in global CO2 emissions and wind power is going
to have to play a major part in that. No other technology can come
close to delivering the required new power generation capacity
without emissions in that time frame," said GWEC Secretary General
Steve Sawyer. "It is the only reliable emissions-free energy
technology ready for massive deployment now, but governments have
to act decisively to make this happen."
The report was launched at the Global Wind Power conference in
Beijing. China has the world's fastest growing wind power market
and is expected to become the biggest manufacturer of wind energy
equipment by the end of 2009.
The report explores three different scenarios for wind power - a
Reference Scenario based on figures from the International Energy
Agency (IEA); a Moderate version that assumes that current targets
for renewable energy are successful; and an Advanced Scenario that
assumes that all policy options in favour of renewables have been
adopted. These are then set against two demand projections for
global energy demand.
Wind energy has already become a mainstream power generation
source in many regions around the world, and it is being deployed
in over 70 countries. In addition to environmental benefits, wind
energy also provides a sustainable answer to increasing concerns
about security of energy supply and volatile fossil fuel prices.
Moreover, wind energy is becoming a substantial factor in economic
development, providing more than 350,000 'green collar' jobs today
both in direct and indirect employment. By 2020, this figure is
projected to increase to over 2 million.
The existing power sector emits around 40 percent of global
carbon dioxide emissions and there are only three options to
substantially reduce these emissions between now and 2020: energy
efficiency, fuel switching, and renewables, predominantly wind
power.
Greenpeace expects wind power to play a leading role in a fossil
fuel free electricity system of the future. Without wind power, we
won't be able to cut global emissions by the necessary levels,"
said Sven Teske, Greenpeace International's Senior Energy Expert.
"This report is based on Greenpeace's new Energy [R]evolution
scenarios, which show that wind power can make a real difference
between now and 2020. We urge governments to support wind power
with a robust climate agreement, the necessary electricity market
reforms and by cutting down subsidies for fossil fuels and nuclear
energy."
"This report demonstrates that wind technology is not a dream
for the future - it is working now, and it can be deployed on a
large scale very rapidly," said Arthouros Zervos, GWEC's Chairman.
"The political choices of the coming years will determine the
world's environmental and economic situation for many decades to
come. The wind industry stands ready to do its part in what the UN
Secretary General has described as 'the defining struggle of the
21st century'. With sufficient political will and the right
frameworks, it could do even more."
A coalition of wind companies, associations and NGOs will launch
a campaign at the climate meeting in Poznan in December, to
increase government action on wind energy. Entitled 'Wind Power
Works', the campaign will run for a year until the COP 15 climate
talks in Copenhagen, December 2009.
Other contacts: Sven Teske, Greenpeace International renewable energy campaign:
+ 31 62129 68 94
Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 20 718 24 70
Angelika Pullen, GWEC Communications Director:
+32 473 947 966 or +86 1501 1102 673
Notes: Copies of ‘Global Wind Energy Outlook 2008’ can be downloaded at www.gwec.net
An annex showing the graphs and figures for the ‘Global Wind Energy Outlook 2008’ report is also available for download
Copies of the ‘Energy [R]evolution: A sustainable World Energy Outlook’ report can be downloaded at: www.greenpeace.org/energyrevolution and www.erec.org.
For other regional reports please go to www.energyblueprint.info