Emerging Trends: The Case for Wind
Wind turbines are hardly the buzziest of clean technologies. After all, rudimentary versions of these systems, which capture kinetic energy from airflows and convert a portion of it into electric energy, were the earliest competitive form of renewable electricity. Despite solar PV’s more recent price drops and rapid growth, wind still produces more electricity today.
Wind has the potential to abate 10% to 20% of all CO2e emissions by 2050 through the clean electrification of power, heat, and road transport. To get to zero emissions by 2050, wind must grow sixteenfold to 38 TWh annual production; the more likely Economic Transition Scenario is wind growing sevenfold to 15 TWh.
Download Wind below to explore innovative technologies, market barriers, and policy levers to accelerate the adoption of these solutions.
Three Key Points
Ambitious policy moves have already shown how both supply- and demand-side forces can shift rapidly toward an embrace of wind. Consider the case of Ørsted, a Danish multinational energy company that transitioned from 80% coal- and gas-powered energy in 2006 to 70% wind by 2023, making it the world’s largest developer of offshore wind power.
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The wind turbine supply chain spans five tiers: from raw materials (Tier 5) like iron and copper, through processed materials (Tier 4) and standard components (Tier 3), to specialized subassemblies (Tier 2) such as blade pitch systems, culminating in finished products (Tier 1) like turbines and foundations purchased by developers.
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Incorporating hydrogen into the energy system is not a fanciful, futuristic idea—it’s already being done. Today, hydrogen is commonly used as an input in petroleum refining, where it acts to break apart complex hydrocarbons and remove impurities.
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How can Ørsted overcome its US Challenges?
The world's largest offshore wind developer seeks to boost its share price as Trump policies cloud the future of clean energy.
Ørsted’s Case for Offshore Wind
Ørsted, formerly Danish Oil and Natural Gas, has bet big on wind. Onshore wind has long been cheaper than offshore, raising a set of strategic questions of why to invest in the latter.
Can Wind Energy Compete? Three Key Takeaways on Its Future
Wind energy has long been a cornerstone of the renewable energy sector, yet it faces increasing competition from solar power, supply chain disruptions, and shifting global policies. Here are three critical forces shaping the future of wind energy.