An initiative has been launched at COP28 to help unlock potential of offshore wind power.
Ocean Energy Pathway (OEP) is a new global non-profit, supported by the newly announced Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance (ORCA), a $250m funding collaborative.
Offshore wind represents a unique opportunity for many countries to build a new clean energy industry and create a durable economic alternative to fossil fuel dependency.
Through support from the global wind industry and climate philanthropy, OEP will accelerate offshore wind development over the next decade in at least 10 markets with significant wind resources at the frontier of the energy transition, including India, Brazil, Colombia and South Africa.
Built upon multi-stakeholder collaboration in each country, OEP delivers programmes through a two-pronged approach, providing technical assistance and advisory services to governments and coalition-building and advocacy with local and global civil society partners.
Claire O’Neill, Former UK Minister of Energy and Clean Growth, said: “Targets are great, but as we learned building the UK’s landmark Offshore Wind Sector deal, the transition will be delivered in practice by the kind of smart, patient and strategic work done by organisations like OEP that can work between industry, politicians and citizens to build support, developed shared strategies and invest at pace to unblock regulatory and investment barriers to accelerated deployment of clean technologies.”
Charles Ogilvie, Executive Director of OEP, added: “Offshore wind will provide the green electrons at scale to power the green industries of the future, but projects must deliver for communities and ecosystems to be truly sustainable.
“OEP is a partner and resource for all stakeholders trying to accelerate this vital piece of the global transition to a clean economy.”