Global Wind Energy Council: Wind Could Supply 41% of World’s Electricity Demand by 2050

ScalingGreen

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) is out with the sixth edition of its annual Global Wind Energy Outlook, “looking at the future of our industry out to 2020, 2030 and ultimately to 2050.” The full report is available for download at GWEC’s website, but for now, here are a few highlights (bolding added for emphasis) and graphs.

  • Wind power booms, the only question being how rapidly. See the graphic below, and note that wind power could make up anywhere from 11% to 20% of world power demand in 2030, and from 18% to 41% in 2050, depending on the scenario.
  • The “Advanced Scenario” is the most ambitious, assuming “an unambiguous commitment to renewable energy in line with industry recommendations, the political will to commit to appropriate policies and the political stamina to stick with them.” It also assumes that “governments enact clear and effective policies on carbon emission reductions in line with the now universally agreed objective of keeping global mean temperature rise below 2°C above pre-industrial temperatures.”
  • In contrast, the “New Policies Scenario” is the least optimistic, assuming “current directions and intentions of both national and international energy and climate policy, even though they may not yet have been incorporated into formal decisions or enacted into law.”

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.