Wind set to provide 5% of global power supplies by 2030: Study

Wind set to provide 5% of global power supplies by 2030: Study

Portland, Maine (Platts)--20Sep2006

Under conservative forecasts, wind energy is to likely supply 5% of the
world's electricity by 2030 and 6.6% by 2050, according to a report released
Wednesday by the Global Wind Energy Council and Greenpeace International.

But if current renewable targets are met, wind would account for 15.6% of
electric supply in 2030 and 17.7% in 2050, the report said. With additional
government support, wind's share of power sourcing could jump to 29.1% in 2030
and 34.2% in 2050, it added.

To reach the higher levels, the report called for the setting of
renewable targets, the removal barriers to wind energy and improving financing
mechanisms for wind investments.

"We urge governments to support wind power development via electricity
market reforms and by cutting down subsidies for fossil and nuclear fuels,"
said Sven Teske, Greenpeace renewable director.

Worldwide wind capacity has grown from 4,800 MW in 1995 to 59,000 MW by
the end of 2005, the report said. The top five countries in adding new
capacity in 2005 were the US, Germany, Spain, India and Portugal, the report
said.

The key factors boosting wind farm construction include lower costs for
wind technology, general concern about fuel supplies like oil and natural gas
and environmental concerns relegated to air emissions, the report said.

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