During WindEnergy Hamburg, representatives of the global wind energy community agreed on the need to increase global wind installations to 10 million MW by 2050. This would require at least a doubling of annual wind installations and greater cooperation across the sector.
The discussion identified several areas requiring action:
- Streamlined permitting and grid expansion: Speed up permitting and invest in grid infrastructure, with clear timelines and digital processes to reduce deployment bottlenecks.
- Innovative financing and risk mitigation: Develop bankable financing models, including blended finance and guarantees, to reduce investment risks in emerging markets, particularly in the Global South and Gulf regions.
- Communities as partners: Move beyond consultation towards greater community participation and economic benefit-sharing to support the development of wind projects.
- Regional cooperation: Expand interconnected grids, coordinated procurement and knowledge-sharing platforms to support cross-border development.
- Localisation and global supply chains: Balance domestic industrial development with open and resilient global supply chains, while avoiding protectionist measures that could increase costs.
- Repowering and circularity: Introduce policies that support repowering and circular economy practices, including blade recycling and turbine refurbishment, to extend asset lifetimes and reduce waste.
- Fair market conditions: Apply measures such as the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) transparently and consistently to support fair competition between manufacturers.
- Knowledge transfer and capacity building: Establish international platforms, including the World Wind Energy Academy, to share experience in policy, financing and technology, with support tailored to emerging markets.
- Industry collaboration: Increase pre-competitive cooperation on standards, research and development, and supply chain resilience to reduce costs and duplication.
- Wind as a climate and energy security priority: Coordinate advocacy efforts to promote wind energy as part of climate action and energy security, with policy support, public investment and public communication reflecting its role in the energy transition.
