Orsted, Global Wind Energy Council, Vestas, Iberdrola and other wind industry players have urged the G20 leaders to work with industry to “shift gears on the clean energy transition”.
The companies have signed an open letter ahead of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Washington on 12-13 October 2022.
In the letter, which has been sent to all G20 Heads of State and selected world leaders, the signatories, which include developers, turbine producers and trade groups, have listed “urgent” policy commitments in nine action areas.
These include scaling up ambition and higher volumes for wind power and reflecting this in updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by the end of 2022, comprehensive national climate and net zero strategies and energy plans as well as streamlining permitting schemes for grid-scale renewable energy projects to accelerate wind energy deployment.
The recommendations include asking leaders to avoid “long-term lock-in” of fossil fuel-based generation in the current energy security crisis.
They also include calls for the development of cohesive and inclusive policies to enact a just and equitable energy transition, contributing towards industrialisation of developing economies, as well as grid investments to accommodate renewables buildout.
The signatories to the open letter stated: “On the occasion of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Washington this week, we wish to send this message: To resolve these crises, avoid similar ones in the future and protect people and the planet, we need to cooperate and urgently shift to a cleaner and more secure energy system based on renewable energy.
“As members of the Global Wind Energy Coalition for COP27 and representatives of the wind and renewable energy industry, we take joint responsibility for creating a safer and cleaner energy future.”
The G20 already houses the top wind energy countries, including China, the US, Germany, India, Spain, the UK, France and Brazil.
There is 56,000GW of offshore wind technical potential across G20 countries, with members, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa and the US, hosting at least 296,000GW of onshore wind potential.
Other signatories to open letter include CEOs and leaders of Siemens Gamesa, Gazelle Wind Power, Corio Generation, Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association, Mainstream Renewable Power, CIP and RUK.