A new multi-stakeholder alliance has been formed to tap into the huge potential of offshore wind to drive the global energy transition and tackle the climate and energy crises. The Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) will aim to support the installed global offshore wind capacity to achieve an increase of 670 per cent – from 57 GW in 2021 to 380 GW in 2030.
Representatives from the Danish, US and other governments, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and the offshore wind industry met at a public event in New York to discuss how to unleash the potential of offshore wind.
According to forecasts by IRENA and the IEA, 2,000 GW of installed capacity will be needed in order to keep the goal of limiting global temperatures to 1.5°C within reach and achieve net zero by 2050. Yet, global installed offshore wind capacity only totaled 57 GW in 2021.
Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Dan Jørgensen, said: “A massive increase in energy from offshore wind is key to fight climate change, phase out fossil fuels and strengthen energy security. We cannot do it alone but must work together across the public and private sectors as well as across countries and regions. The GOWA will be a platform to do just that. Denmark became home to the world’s first offshore wind farm in 1991. We have extensive experience in the field and a long history of sharing it with the rest of the world. We are looking forward to joining forces with partners who share our vision and ambitions.”
Francesco La Camera, Director-General, IRENA, said: “Energy security and the brutal energy crisis are forcing us to re-evaluate our world. Offshore wind technology is the gateway to new sites leveraging high-wind resources. We can all benefit from wind farms built at gigawatt scale making them an important addition to the world’s technology portfolio. A blue economy driven by renewables also brings socioeconomic benefits to coastal communities. But to truly succeed, we need greater cooperation and this is why the GOWA can help by creating the partnerships necessary to drive the global energy transition across oceans and land.”
Ben Backwell, CEO, Global Wind Energy Council said: “The wind industry is uniting with governments and UN institutions on a mission to drive a 670% uplift in installed global wind capacity by 2030.”
There couldn’t be a more crucial time for this Alliance. Dependence on volatile fossil fuels has created energy security and cost of living crises while driving runaway global heating. With offshore wind, the world has an effective solution for adding large amounts of zero carbon power at affordable costs, while creating jobs and new investments in industry and infrastructure all around the world.
“Over the last year alone, we have seen governments set new, higher targets, while many new countries are now ready to join in and create their own offshore wind industries,” added Backwell. “By bringing governments, the wind industry, investors, institutions and communities together to raise ambition and to share knowledge and resources, GOWA is going to play a vital role in helping countries to shorten the gap between establishing targets and real world delivery.”
