The Global Wind Energy Council (‘GWEC’) has launched a Wind Action Plan setting out policy measures for governments to accelerate wind energy deployment and strengthen energy resilience.
GWEC said the plan calls on countries to review their exposure to future fossil fuel price shocks amid oil and gas market volatility sparked by conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The organisation added that governments should implement policy packages to scale the deployment of homegrown wind energy and fast-track shovel-ready projects to diversify power sources and strengthen energy security.
The Wind Action Plan urges governments to accelerate permitting processes for wind, renewable and storage projects to deliver a major expansion of capacity within the next 36 months.
It also calls for action to expand, modernise and optimise electricity grids and storage systems and to significantly shorten grid connection queues.
The plan proposes mobilising public and private investment in wind and other renewable energy projects through measures including preferential interest rates and new renewable lending frameworks.
Further recommendations include accelerating electrification across transport, heating and industry while scaling supply chains to support renewable, grid and storage deployment.
Ben Backwell, chief executive of GWEC, said: “We need to break the cycle of energy crises. The unfolding tragedy in the Middle East and its impact on surging oil and gas prices is just the latest reminder of our vulnerability to volatile fossil fuels.”
“Economies built around limitless, homegrown wind and renewable energy benefit from long-term, low-cost price certainty.”