The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has launched Africa WindPower (AWP) to address a clear need for a regional body representing the wind industry.
AWP offers a platform for dialogue between Africa’s wind industry and government stakeholders, with the ultimate goal of scaling up and accelerating wind project development and deployment across the entire African continent.
Despite an early start for wind energy in Africa, wind energy deployment has often been held back as fossil fuel generation sources such as natural gas continue to make inroads in some markets, and coal, heavy fuel oil, and diesel remain a large part of the energy mix.
GWEC Africa WindPower Launch Event
Speakers
Wangari Muchiri, GWEC Africa WindPower Coordinator
Jerome Niessen, GWEC Africa WindPower Senior Adviser
Ben Backwell, GWEC CEO
Michael Franz, Team Leader, GET.invest
Paolo Frankl, Head of Renewable Energy Division, IEA
Dolf Gielen, Director Innovation & Technology, IRENA
Linda Munyengeterwa, Regional Industry Director, Infrastructure, Middle East & Africa, IFC World Bank Group
Dr. Eng. Joseph K. Njoroge, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Republic of Kenya
Jean-Pierre Sanchez, Africa Business Development Manager, Siemens Gamesa
Louise Paulsen, Managing Director, Vestas South Africa
Chris Antonopoulos, Chief Executive Officer, Lekela Power
Dr. Kenneth ‘ Doc’ Namunje, Developer of Kenya’s Kipeto Wind Farm
George Aluru, Chairman of Electricity Sector Association of Kenya
Mercia Grimbeek, Chair of South Africa Wind Energy Association
Lucy Heintz, Partner, Energy Actis/Board Chair, Lekela
Chibeze Ezekiel, Executive Coordinator of the Strategic Youth Network for Development
Africa has 59,000 GW of technical onshore and offshore wind potential, enough to meet the continent’s energy demand 250 times over, according to a recent report commissioned by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Building out wind farms that utilize Africa’s vast wind resource will drive investment, create clean energy jobs and critical infrastructure, and help support thriving local economies in line with the region’s Sustainable Development Goals.
GWEC’s latest data shows that Africa is only tapping into 0.01 percent of its wind resource, with over 7 GW of installed capacity as of the end of 2020, led by South Africa. Current installed wind energy capacity in Africa helps to avoid 10.7 million tons of CO2 emissions annually – equivalent to taking 2.3 million passenger cars off the road.
Africa WindPower is supported by GET.invest, a European program which aims to mobilise investment in renewable energy, supported by the European Union, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Austria.