GLOBAL CLIMATE TARGETS UNDER THREAT WITHOUT A SECURE WIND ENERGY SUPPLY CHAIN

The report explores the impact of four different macroeconomic scenarios, and how the wind industry can best navigate uncertainty and change in the global market. An ‘Open Door’ approach would yield the highest net-positive impact in wind growth to reach climate goals, but the report anticipates the ‘Increased Barriers’ scenario as the most likely to materialise in this decade. 

1)    An Open Door scenario with growing regional collaboration on both supply and demand. 

2)    An Increased Barriers scenario where markets increase trade barriers and turn attention towards domestic investment. 

3)    Economic Downturn where investments dry up and attention focuses towards low-cost rather than low-emission technology. 

4)    Global Escalation where increasing cross-border conflict reduces trade and shifts energy focus from decarbonisation towards availability. 

The report outlines six key action areas that would set the conditions for large-scale wind supply chain growth and security: 

• Address basic barriers to wind industry growth in land, grids and permitting to increase volume and predictability
• The wind industry must standardise and industrialise
• Regionalisation will be needed to support growth and resilience, while maintaining a globalised supply chain
• The market must provide clear and bankable demand signals
• Trade policy should aim to build competitive industries, not push higher costs onto end users
• Fundamental reform of the power market reform underpins further wind growth

Through a coordinated global effort from industry and policymakers, challenges in the global wind supply chain can be resolved over the course of this decade. Actions taken now in these six areas will help to foster a highly resilient and cost-efficient wind industry to decarbonise the world.

About GWEC

GWEC is a member-based organisation that represents the entire wind energy sector. The members of GWEC represent over 1,500 companies, organisations and institutions in more than 80 countries, including manufacturers, developers, component suppliers, research institutes, national wind and renewables associations, electricity providers, finance and insurance companies. 

Find us at: https://gwec.net/

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