World Wind Power Deployment: Some Delays in 2020 due to Covid-19, but Bright Future Prospects

Overall the speakers, almost without exception, confirmed that the pandemic is having an impact on developments and on new installations this year, and that there are many delays in different phases of project implementation. The delays are mainly caused by interruptions of international supply chains, non-availability of the workforce due to hygienic rules but also due to permission procedures which take longer than usual. 

While many markets will see delays caused by the pandemic, some markets remain hardly affected. However, also other factors like the switch to auctions are having a negative impact on markets, as they lead to reduction of number of investors and in several cases the offered volume has been undersubscribed. While, for example, the markets in Germany, India, Italy and Brazil are under pressure caused by auctions, the direct marketing of wind power is becoming more and more important. For example in Brazil, as a significantly higher return can be obtained through direct power purchase agreements than in the national electricity auctions. In general, the concept of direct marketing and self-consumption is getting more relevant in many parts of the world, also beyond wind power. While feed-in tariffs are under pressure and auctions lead to problems amongst investors, such new forms of direct marketing and self consumption may become major drivers, as the example of Brazil is showing.

This trend is supported by governments’ changed priorities towards more domestic resilience and national supply chains, both provided by renewable energy. Also the increasing awareness of the urgency of climate change mitigation leads to more political action. Accordingly, experts from around the world almost consistently rate the medium to long-term prospects of wind power as positive to very positive. Some countries such as China, Japan or Korea increased their expansion targets during the pandemic or are planning corresponding steps. Already in 2020, China may even see an expansion at a record level of possibly more than 30 gigawatts; the agreed goal of climate neutrality also means that at least 50 gigawatts each of wind and solar energy will be added in the coming years.

Overall, WWEA expects the installation figures in 2020 to be similar or slightly below those of 2019, but to return to strong growth again in 2021. 

Peter Rae, WWEA President: “Wind energy is now, in spite of the pandemic situation, about to become a principal source of the future global energy supply and will, together with the other renewables, provide the energy that mankind needs for a sustainable future.” 

Links to the recordings of all country reports: 
Wind Power Markets Around the World – Half-year Review (1): Asia and Australia: https://wwindea.org/blog/2020/09/29/wind-markets-around-the-world/ 
Wind Power Markets Around the World – Half-year Review (2): Europe, MENA and Africa: https://wwindea.org/blog/2020/10/08/webinar-europe-mena-and-africa/ 
Wind Power Markets Around the World – Half-year Review (3): The Americas: https://wwindea.org/blog/2020/10/16/webinar-americas/