The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and multinational players in the industry have published a statement highlighting how wind energy is central to economic recovery from the impact of COVID-19.
GWEC, along with signatories representing global wind industry corporations and associations, released a statement laying out the key policy actions needed to realise a sustainable economic recovery.
The statement calls on governments, intergovernmental bodies, and global lending institutions, and suggests key actions policy makers can take to put wind energy investment at the centre of their economic recovery and growth plans.
Wind energy is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and could create nearly four million direct and indirect jobs as well as between $207bn (€189bn) of additional annual investments if wind capacity rises above two terawatts, said GWEC.
Policy actions outlined in the statement have three overarching themes. They are investment for a sustainable and resilient future, an enabling environment for clean energy, and empowerment of people to drive the energy transition forward.
The council said wind power will enable governments to renew critical infrastructure for a sustainable future.
The wind industry will help to deliver jobs, clean and affordable power and energy security needed for a sustainable economic recovery, said GWEC.
GWEC chief executive Ben Backwell said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented social and economic impact around the world, and how we recover from the crisis depends on the actions that we all take over the coming months.
“We have the opportunity here to ‘re-build back better’, help kick-start sustainable economic recovery, and build the energy infrastructure of the future.”
He added: “Young people in particular will bear the financial, social, health and environmental costs of the stimulus plans now being designed, and carry the debt associated with this spending, so we must make sure they are able to benefit from today’s decisions.
“At the same time, governments should establish a principle of ‘no harm’ for economic stimulus spending and ensure that this does go to reviving fossil fuel industries which need to be phased out to achieve the energy transition and head off the threat of dangerous and irreversible climate change.”
WindEurope chief executive Giles Dickson added: “The long-term impact of COVID-19 depends on the political action we take now. In Europe the Green Deal offers the route to economic recovery.
“Jobs, growth and sustainability – a clear vision for all countries to pursue.
Governments should align their recovery packages with climate goals and invest in the job-creating potential of onshore and offshore wind. Their economies will bounce back stronger and more resilient.”
Signatory companies include Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, Iberdrola, Mingyang Smart Energy, MHI Vestas, Acciona, Nordex, EDPR, Orsted, Goldwind and Envision.
Wind and renewable energy association signatories include WindEurope, American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Chinese Wind Energy Association (CWEA), Brazilian Wind Energy Association (ABEEolica), Mexican Wind Energy Association (AMDEE), RES4Africa, South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA), Japan Wind Power Association (JWPA), Russian Association of Wind Power Industry (RAWI), Japan Renewable Energy Institute (REI), SER Colombia, Mongolian Wind Energy Association (MONWEA), and the Turkish Wind Energy Association (TUREB/TWEA).