LONDON. A new report released by energy think tank Ember reveals that major countries, including the U.S., India, Russia, and Japan, are falling significantly short of their wind power expansion targets, hampering efforts to address climate change.
The report assesses the progress of 70 countries that collectively account for 99% of global wind power capacity. Despite a commitment made at the UN COP28 climate conference last December to triple renewable electricity by 2030, including wind power, the study projects that wind power will only double by 2029 compared to the 2022 baseline.
“Governments are lacking ambition on wind, and especially onshore wind,” said Katye Altieri, electricity analyst at Ember. “Wind is not getting enough attention.”
Wind power is crucial for providing a steady supply of clean electricity, particularly when solar energy is not available. The report evaluates both onshore and offshore wind turbines.
Among the countries falling short of their wind power goals, the U.S. has the largest gap, trailing by 100 gigawatts, equivalent to the electricity needs of over 30 million homes. This gap is based on targets set by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The Energy Department declined to comment on the findings.
India is also significantly behind, with a shortfall of over 30 gigawatts despite its considerable wind potential. Currently, wind accounts for only 4% of India’s electricity, according to Altieri. India’s energy ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
Conversely, Brazil and Finland are leading by exceeding their wind targets by 15 and 11 gigawatts, respectively. They are among just ten countries expected to surpass their goals, with seven of these being European nations, including Turkey.
Brian O’Callaghan, a lead researcher at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford, emphasized the importance of technological advancements. Taller wind turbines, particularly offshore, have the potential to generate significantly more power. “Most coastal nations have barely tapped into their offshore wind resources,” he noted, citing the UK as an example.
Countries such as Russia, Japan, and South Korea have substantial wind potential but have made minimal progress in expanding wind power. Russia, despite its vast wind resources, generated less than 1% of its electricity from wind in 2023. John Reilly from MIT explained that Russia’s reliance on natural gas and coal reduces its incentive to invest in wind energy. Russia’s Energy Ministry did not respond to comment requests.
Japan faces challenges due to its deep offshore waters and mountainous terrain, which complicate turbine placement. The country generates just over 1% of its power from wind. Japan’s Trade and Economy Ministry did not respond to inquiries.
South Korea struggles with heavy regulations and public resistance, slowing wind power development. South Korea’s Energy Agency could not be reached for comment.
The report suggests that the falling price of solar power might be a factor in the slower wind power development. “When many of these big commitments were made, the wind looked like the cheapest renewable energy source,” Reilly said. However, solar prices have dramatically decreased since 2020.
Despite the challenges, Altieri finds reasons for optimism. “Europe is doing great,” she said, noting that even with the North Sea’s wind resources barely tapped, Europe and China are likely to lead in future wind power expansion.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
