Page 5 - AsiaElec Week 26 2022
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AsiaElec COMMENTARY AsiaElec
Climate change these ambitions into actions.
The report stressed that offshore wind had a key A range of regulatory issues much be solved,
role to play in reducing CO2 emissions and in such as faster seabed concession licensing, sim-
promoting clean and healthy oceans, although plified planning processes procurement schemes
it had to ensure that wind turbine development that produce sustainable prices.
went hand-in-hand with biodiversity and con- In April, the GWEC warned it its Global
servation goals. Wind Report that the 12% growth figure posted
“The wind industry needs to take its place as in 2021 for the combined onshore and offshore
a key custodian of a healthy Ocean ecosystem, sector needed to quadruple by the 2030 if the
as it becomes one of the world’s most important world was to stay on course for a 1.5°C pathway
marine-based industries. We need to work with and net zero by 2050.
stakeholders and communities in the Ocean One crucial area is the supply chain, which
environment to ensure that we scale up in a way is vulnerable to disruptions to global trade and
that ensures holistic cooperation and planning to rising prices in the current inflationary eco-
and ensures the highest level of harmony with nomic environment.
biodiversity and conservation goals. GWEC urged governments and the private
sector work together to ensure the existence of a
Looking ahead well-functioning global supply chain that is able
However, the question remains to be asked if the to scale up rapidly over the next decade to meet
wind industry is developing fast enough to meet growth. At present, the health of the supply chain
global net zero target. is under threat from inflationary pressure from
The report was confident that it could, fore- commodity and logistics price increases, while
casting that current government offshore wind suffering from “race to the bottom” pricing and
targets will take the world to 370GW of offshore uneven demand growth.
capacity by 2031, close to theGWEC/IRENA A balance must be struck between ambitious
Offshore Wind Energy Compact’s target of targets and the ability of markets and industry
380GW of offshore wind installations by 2030. to meet them.
While annual offshore additions reached Ulrik Stridbæk, Vice President, Head of Regu-
21.1GW in 2021, this is forecast to reach 54.9GW latory Affairs, Ørsted, said: “The global offshore
by 2031, offshore’s share of new global wind wind industry is at a critical inflection point. On
installations is set to grow from 23% in 2021 to one hand, we see political ambitions increase
at least 30% by 2031. exponentially. But on the other hand, the indus-
The report warned that while the current 380- try is facing increasing costs and disrupted sup-
GW by 2030 target set by governments was wel- ply chains, jeopardising its long term ability to
come, a gargantuan effort was required to turn realise these targets.
Week 26 29•June•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P5
