The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) have signed the Global Offshore Wind Energy Compact, an agenda that strives to secure sustainable energy for all while also aiding the global fight against climate change. According to the agreement, IRENA and GWEC will collaborate to raise government ambitions to achieve 380 GW of offshore wind installations globally by 2030, and 2,000 GW by 2050. The targets are in line with offshore wind’s role in achieving net-zero emissions scenarios by 2050. Further, the agenda of IRENA and GWEC is to ensure that no country or territory is left behind and that untapped resource potential is harnessed to assist the world in meeting its 2050 goals.
The compact also lays out a clear path for governments to undertake the fundamental reforms needed to fulfil this aim and their respective NDC targets. The organisations will strengthen governments’ understanding of offshore wind, as represented in country NDCs. This will be done through IRENA’s collaborative framework on Ocean Energy/Offshore Renewables, and by increasing membership of the framework. With this, more countries will be able to boost their interest in offshore wind. IRENA and GWEC will also analyse institutional and resource shortages in order to help the globe meet the 2030 and 2050 targets. These aspirations, when combined with increased outreach and interaction with politicians in countries that are new to offshore wind, should help the sector expand geographically and meet the world’s 2050 target.
IRENA is an intergovernmental organisation tasked with facilitating cooperation, advancing knowledge, and promoting renewable energy uptake and use in a sustainable manner. GWEC is the world’s largest trade group for the wind energy industry, comprising over 1,500 firms, organisations, and institutions from over 80 countries.
