New Year Greetings
Dear Members and Friends of WWEA,
A lot has happened in the passing year: Wind power has gained additional momentum in 2023, as it has already been reflected in our half-year statistics which we published in November (https://wwindea.org/wwea-half-year-report-2023-additional-momentum-for-windpower-in-2023/). At this very moment, the globally installed wind power capacity has exceeded 1 million Megawatt – a milestone in the shift towards a renewable energy world.
Although wind power has now been overtaken by solar power in new capacity added, wind power still plays and will continue to play a vital role in the symphony of the renewables all over the world. At many places, wind and sun perfectly complement each other. And wind farms contribute not only to a climate friendly energy supply, but they make power affordable and accessible for people worldwide.
Accordingly, it has continued to be a focus of our work to spread approaches which ensure not only the rapid development of wind power. In the longer-term interest, WWEA is promoting also inclusive approaches which ensure the political and social support for wind power because people are aware that they benefit directly from the wind turbines in their vicinity.
Our 21st World Wind Energy Conference WWEC2023 was an excellent meeting place where such ideas were discussed – as part of the overall theme of the Symphony of the Renewables. Driven by the people, Australia has become a renewable energy powerhouse of the world. (https://wwindea.org/wwec2023-conference-resolution/)
We have been continuously working with partners from around the world – after all with IRENA (https://wwindea.org/wwea-on-the-irena-work-programme-integrate-the-full-range-of-renewable-energy-issues-and-stakeholders/) where WWEA is leading the community energy working group, a topic that otherwise would be neglected on the global level. Other important partnerships included the Global 100% Renewable Energy Platform, REN21 and the REN Alliance – partners with which we undertook e.g. joint activities during the UN climate change conferences in Bonn and Dubai.
In particular the recent climate change conference COP28 in Dubai (https://wwindea.org/official-wwea-cop28-side-event-rapidly-mobilizing-renewable-energy-resources-for-a-just-global-energy-transformation/) didn’t bring the great breakthrough as it was as usual ruled by the requirement to come to consensus with all parties – but even in Dubai it was unavoidable to speak about phasing-out fossil fuels and accelerating renewables. (https://wwindea.org/let-us-make-2024-the-year-of-renewables/) While the parties agreed, in a very vague language, to transition aways from fossil fuels, WWEA supported the pledge to go for a 100% renewable energy supply across all sectors, as fast as possible (https://wwindea.org/globale100re-cop28-declaration/). The official goal to triple renewable power capacity by 2030 has to be seen in this context as one small, but insufficient step as it means only business as usual, as the CEO of a Chinese wind turbine manufacturer described it (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/dec/09/cop28-vow-to-triple-renewables-is-within-reach?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other).
However, the year 2023 has brought us also other surprises – and has also taught us that the history of wind power has to be re-written – as it was the Austrian wind pioneer Josef Friedländer who installed the first wind turbine generator already in the year 1883, 140 years ago. (https://wwindea.org/140-years-of-wind-power-as-the-world-reaches-1-mio-mw-new-discovery-shows-that-the-worlds-first-wind-generator-was-installed-in-1883/)
Our initiative Renewables4Ukraine has helped people to ensure permanent electricity supply at places where power supply otherwise cannot be provided. The Golden Planet Award for this initiative and for the Ukrainian singer Ruslana is proving that this work finds international recognition (https://wwindea.org/golden-planet-award-for-ruslana-and-renewables4ukraine/). And as a side-effect of the initiative, also the Mali Folkecenter in West Africa is soon expected to receive a container full of new solar panels, donated by a Canadian company.
At WWEA, we have worked out a new strategy which will allow us to work in and with the changing energy landscape around the world. You will soon hear from us more details about what we will start in the coming year.
Hand in hand with this, WWEA has also seen a change in leadership. After eight years, Peter Rae has announced his resignation and has handed over the WWEA Presidency to Irfan Mirza (https://wwindea.org/irfan-mirza-elected-as-new-wwea-president/). This is once more the time to say a Big Thank you very much to Peter Rae for serving eight years as our president and for all your contributions to the success of WWEA.
We, as the new tandem, look now forward to continuing our success and assure you that we will do our best to work in continuity based on our principles and goals but with new ideas and approaches. Please contact us at any time should you have any ideas, proposals, comments what we can do to help the growth of renewables and wind power in the world!
Let us conclude with a Big Thank you very much to all of you for a wonderful collaboration in very challenging times. WWEA is a wonderful example how even in a changing world we can work together internationally, based on our common values of collaboration, respect, and the ultimate goal of a better, a renewable energy world!
And, after all, we wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year 2024!
With best wishes
Dr. Irfan Mirza
President
Stefan Gsänger
Secretary General