There is a growing body of evidence which shows that wind energy can help governments accelerate a green economic recovery, and form a bedrock for sustainable economic growth in the future. The benefits of wind energy are wide-ranging and expand beyond clean power generation – they include sustainable job creation, public health cost savings which would be spent redressing the impacts of fossil fuel generation, water consumption savings which would otherwise be used for thermal generation, and a significant capital injection in a local value chain. The sector is particularly attractive for emerging economies which need to phase out fossil fuels while maintaining economic growth, meeting fast-growing electricity demand and safeguarding energy security. 

Wind energy has achieved significant cost reduction and technological excellence over the past two decades, establishing it as a proven and market-ready alternative to fossil fuels. While costs might initially be higher in emerging economies where the wind industry is new – due to factors such as less experienced personnel, start-up costs, initial investment uncertainty and lack of established supply chain – these costs can quickly reduce with government commitment, policy certainty and market forces.

This report reflects a study of wind energy potential in emerging economies around the world over the next five years, from 2022-2026, with the aim to highlight the vast and largely unexploited socioeconomic and environmental opportunities attached to wind energy. 

Five emerging economies in particular were selected as country studies: Brazil, India, South Africa, Mexico, and the Philippines.

Accelerated deployment of wind projects will not only support climate action, but help countries to realise a range of benefits from job creation to cleaner air. The study identifies three common barriers facing wind energy deployment in emerging economies and provides recommendations on how these barriers can be overcome.