IRENA/GWEC report identifies key permitting reforms that unlock offshore wind’s potential and accelerate the energy transition
18 September, New York | A new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), as an outcome of IRENA’s Collaborative Framework on Ocean Energy and Offshore Renewables, has identified eight key permitting reforms that can play a crucial role in delivering the rapid acceleration of renewable energy installations the world needs to stay on course for 1.5C, and net zero by 2050. The report is the product of industry and governments coming together in the context of IRENA’s Collaborative Framework to find practical solutions to this key challenge.
Through the Collaborative Framework, ten governments collaborated by supplying case studies and signing off the recommendations in the report. Collaboration is crucial to delivering on offshore wind’s potential, and the reforms highlighted in this report are the sort of actionable solutions that can help rapidly scale up the deployment of offshore wind.
The recommendations are focused on mandated lead times, alignment of land and ocean use, establishing one-stop-shops, stakeholder consultations, digital training courses, digital databases, emergency clearing mechanisms and energy infrastructure permits.
Permitting is a key bottleneck for offshore wind – highlighted by manufacturers, developers and investors, and seen in every region of the world, and with projects of every size. Overcoming this bottleneck would have a transformative effect on the rapid rollout of offshore wind.
IRENA’s World Energy Transition Outlook (WETO) 2023 found the world needs to cut carbon dioxide emission by around 27 gigatonnes from the levels seen in 2022 if the energy sector is to be net zero by 2050. Offshore wind can play a critical role in delivering the clean energy required for this fundamental change.
GWEC last two Global Offshore Wind Reports highlighted the enormous growth of offshore wind: 2021 and 2022 were the two biggest years for offshore wind installations. However growth is nowhere near quick enough. IRENA’s latest WETO analysis indicates the necessity of offshore wind to grow from 64 GW of total capacity currently to 494 GW by 2030, and reach 2,465 GW by 2050. IRENA and GWEC confirms their confidence in the potential of this technology to achieve the pressing global energy transition targets.
Francesco La Camera, Director-General, IRENA, said:
“Despite the recent events concerning volatility in prices across value chains, renewables continue to demonstrate their resiliency and strong competitive economic viability to drive the global energy transition.” He added, “Offshore Wind is a key part of the needed technology portfolio, increasingly gaining momentum and traction by different countries. I am pleased that this new report, from our Collaborative Framework on Ocean Energy and Offshore Renewables supported by GWEC and IRENA providing actionable solution to make permitting processes more efficient and rapid to speed up the global deployment of Offshore Wind.”
Rebecca Williams, Global Head of Offshore Wind, GWEC, said:
“On the same day as 250 organisations call on policy makers around the world to set an ambitious target to triple renewables globally by 230, we are also setting out just how this could be done. Offshore wind has the potential to deliver transformative clean energy in every region of the world, but unlocking this potential requires decisive action on key bottlenecks. Permitting is at the top of that list. The reforms outlined in this report provide practical solutions that would clear the way for the rapid expansion of offshore wind in key markets around the world.”
