According to the Global Wind Energy Council, wind energy will be a key element in the economic recovery from Covid-19, helping to create millions of jobs and affordable renewable energy.
The new scenario imposed by the health crisis caused by the coronavirus has already led us to reflect on what kind of future we want for the aftermath. With an economic crisis that will spare no one, calls have been made from many quarters for a recovery that is as sustainable and renewables-powered as possible. This has been reiterated, following statements by numerous economists, by the Global Wind Energy Council, an association representing more than 1,500 companies, organisations and institutions in over 80 countries in the wind energy sector. According to a recent joint statement, the wind sector could generate more than 4 million direct and indirect jobs by 2030, compared with 1.2 million in 2018.
"The wind sector is one of the most promising industries in the world. Our sector can support millions of jobs and billions in investment," says Morten Dyrholm, president of Gwec, in a statement. "But the immense benefits that wind energy can bring to society as a whole — such as affordable energy, cleaner air and resilient infrastructure — mean that the return on investment for wind makes it a logical choice for countries seeking a green recovery after the pandemic."
Confirmation also comes from the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), which states that for every dollar spent on advancing the global energy transition, there could be a return of three to eight dollars. According to the latest "Global renewables outlook", investing approximately 130 trillion dollars in renewable energy could allow us to reduce global CO2 emissions by 70 per cent by 2050, while at the same time creating 42 million jobs when factoring in the field of energy efficiency and related sectors.
"Measures to overcome the Covid-19 crisis can put the world on the path of sustainable growth and prosperity. The Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Agenda present a medium-term vision for a more resilient and inclusive future that can serve as a reference framework for the national stimulus measures needed today," said Francesco La Camera, director general of Irena, commenting on the report. "The Global renewables outlook shows that by placing the ongoing energy transition at the heart of recovery, we can grow the global economy, create millions of jobs and improve people's lives everywhere."
The figures speak for themselves: from 2015 to 2019, wind energy generated more than 652 billion dollars in investment. Increasing installed wind capacity to more than 2 TW by 2030 would lead to additional annual investment of 207 billion dollars, boosting economic recovery and powering the energy transition.
