The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has launched Africa WindPower (AWP) to establish a regional body representing the wind industry.
AWP aims to offer a platform for dialogue between Africa’s wind industry and government stakeholders, with the ultimate goal of scaling up and accelerating wind project development and deployment across the entire African continent, said GWEC.
A recent report commissioned by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) shows that Africa has 59,000GW of technical onshore and offshore wind potential, enough to meet the continent’s energy demand 250 times over.
Building out wind farms that use Africa’s vast wind resource will drive investment, create clean energy jobs and critical infrastructure, and help support thriving local economies in line with the region’s sustainable development goals.
GWEC said that message is supported by many entities including the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the World Bank Group’s IFC, African Ministries of Energy and National Utilities, National Associations, leading wind energy companies, local wind developers and investors, community leaders and youth climate activists.
GWEC chief executive Ben Backwell said: “Africa has already begun its transition to a clean energy future, but this process is moving far too slowly with incumbent fossil fuels playing too prominent a role.
“Countries across the continent have the crucial ingredients to develop thriving local wind industries, which would bring significant jobs and economic growth to diverse communities.
“Despite what we are hearing on the world stage ahead of COP26, it is not only ‘Climate Finance’ but greater collaboration between the private and public sectors that will drive Africa’s energy transition and increase access to reliable sources of electricity.”
GWEC’s latest data shows that Africa is only tapping into 0.01% of its wind resource, with over 7GW of installed capacity as of the end of 2020, led by South Africa.
Wangari Muchiri, Africa WindPower coordinator, added: “GWEC’s Africa WindPower will bring various stakeholders together to decrease the knowledge gap and increase the development and deployment of wind power throughout the continent.”
Africa WindPower is supported by GET.invest, a European programme which aims to mobilise investment in renewable energy, supported by the European Union, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Austria.