Wind energy is not growing fast enough to stay on the net zero by 2050 path despite adding almost 94GW of new capacity in 2021, the industry’s second-best year on record.
The Global Wind Energy Council today warned the current global situation means energy policy is in flux, and new policy initiatives must rapidly increase the trajectory for wind installations for both net zero aims and energy security.
Wind is on a positive growth trajectory, according to its annual 2022 report, but wind energy is not growing nearly fast or widely enough to realise a secure and resilient global energy transition, the representative group said.
At current rates of installation, GWEC Market Intelligence forecasts that by 2030 we will have less than two-thirds of the wind energy capacity required for a 1.5°C and net zero pathway, effectively condemning us to miss our climate goals.
Global capacity increased by 93.6 GW to bring total cumulative wind power capacity to 837 GW, which is year-over-year growth of 12%.
While the world’s two biggest markets, China and the US, installed less new onshore wind capacity last year – 30.7 GW and 12.7 GW respectively – other regions enjoyed record years, according to the report.
Europe, Latin America and Africa & the Middle East, increased new onshore installations by 19%, 27% and 120%, respectively.
The offshore wind market enjoyed its best-ever year in 2021, with 21.1 GW commissioned, added the study.
That represents three times more than the previous year. China’s mammoth year of offshore installations accounted for 80% of that growth, helping it pass the UK as the world’s largest offshore wind market in cumulative installations.
“The wind industry continues to step up and deliver, but scaling up growth to the level required to reach Net Zero and achieve energy security will require a new, more proactive approach to policy making around the world, said GWEC chief Ben Backwell.
“The last 12 months should serve as a huge wake-up call that we need to move decisively forward and switch to 21st century energy systems based on renewables.”
Xabier Viteri Solaun, Managing Director of Iberdola Renewables, added: “The message is clear: the wind industry must grow very fast this decade to comply with the decarbonisation targets around the world.
“To do that, policymakers must guarantee regulatory stability as well as overcome permitting bottlenecks and further develop grids. The wind industry stands ready for a massive deployment of renewable capacity; national and regional policy must clear the path for this.”