New policy roadmap urges governments to fast-track wind projects, strengthen grids, and reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets.
The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has launched a Wind Action Plan calling on governments worldwide to accelerate the deployment of wind energy and strengthen national energy resilience amid growing fossil fuel market instability.
The plan urges countries to assess their exposure to future oil and gas price shocks following continued volatility in global energy markets triggered by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and disruptions such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. According to GWEC, rising fuel prices could place additional financial pressure on households and businesses if governments fail to diversify their energy mix.
GWEC Chief Executive Officer Ben Backwell warned that the ongoing energy crisis highlights the dangers of overreliance on fossil fuels. He said economies powered by abundant, domestically produced wind and renewable energy can achieve greater price stability and long-term economic security.
The Wind Action Plan recommends governments fast-track construction of “shovel-ready” wind projects to quickly expand clean power capacity. The strategy draws inspiration from large-scale green recovery programmes introduced after the COVID-19 pandemic and the geopolitical disruptions caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The roadmap focuses on five priority areas: accelerating permitting for renewable energy projects, removing bottlenecks in power grids and energy storage systems, mobilising large-scale financing for clean energy infrastructure, advancing electrification across transport and industry, and strengthening renewable energy supply chains.
GWEC said the initiative is aligned with a broader Renewables Action Plan introduced by the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA), a coalition representing the global renewable energy sector.
The council emphasised that decisive action within the next 12 months could help governments shield their economies from fossil fuel volatility while laying the foundation for sustainable and secure energy growth driven by wind and other renewable sources.