NAW Staff 25 February 2011
Wind power and other renewables can play a significant role in a new global green economy while also helping mitigate climate change between now and 2050, according to a new report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the European Wind Energy Association reports.
The 624-page report notes that investing 2% of global gross domestic product (GDP) into the key sectors "can kick-start a transition toward a low-carbon, resource- efficient green economy" that replaces the "existing resource-depleting, high-carbon 'brown' economy" by mid-century.
The report, titled "Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication," notes that 2% of global GDP currently represents about 950 billion euros a year, and that more than 263 billion euros should be spent on greening energy supply.
Investing approximately 1.25% of global GDP each year in energy efficiency and renewable energies could cut global primary energy demand by 9% in 2020 and close to 40% by 2050, according to the report.
The report also notes that substituting investments in carbon-intensive energy sources with investments in clean energy could increase the penetration rate of renewables to 27% of total primary energy demand by 2050.
Under a green economy scenario, the capacity of power generation from wind could reach 1,515 GW by 2050, the report notes, and adding wind power and other renewables could account for 45% of total electricity generation by mid-century.
SOURCE: European Wind Energy Association
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