About the Offshore Wind Seminar & Study Tour

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) in cooperation with the World Bank Group, is organizing the first intergovernmental forum on emerging offshore wind markets in London during 24-27 June.

The forum will be attended by delegates from around 15 non-OECD governments as well as representatives from industry and investors, and will encompass a series of activities, including a seminar at the UK’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), networking activities at Renewable UK’s Global Offshore Wind conference and exhibition and a study tour of offshore wind facilities in the northern UK.

The World Bank Group announced a new program in March to fast-track the adoption of offshore wind energy in developing countries. Through that program, supported by the United Kingdom, the World Bank and IFC will help emerging markets assess their offshore wind potential and provide technical assistance to develop a growing pipeline of projects that are ready for investment by renewable energy developers.

Led by the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), in partnership with IFC, the $5 million program is being initiated thanks to a GBP£20 million grant to ESMAP from the United Kingdom government to help low- and middle-income countries implement environmentally sustainable energy solutions.

The program is taking place in cooperation with the GWEC and its recently-formed Global Offshore Wind Task Force, which brings together leading offshore wind developers, equipment manufacturers and service providers to support emerging markets in creating a regulatory and business environment conducive to offshore wind market growth.

This forum will convene developing country governments, commercial developers, development partners, and wind energy experts to raise awareness around offshore wind opportunities in emerging markets and lay the groundwork for a pipeline of new projects that could be supported by World Bank or IFC financing. The World Bank and IFC will work with public and private sector partners to undertake technical studies and develop national strategies to facilitate the adoption of this increasingly cost-competitive technology.