By Renewable Energy Focus staff

The Global Wind Energy Council, (GWEC), welcomes the news, saying wind energy will have an increasingly important role to play in the future energy mix.

Secretary General of GWEC, Steve Sawyer, says: “The report clearly demonstrates that renewable technologies could supply the world with more energy than it would ever need, and at a highly competitive cost.

“The IPCC report will be a key reference for policy makers and industry alike, as it represents the most comprehensive high level review of renewable energy to date.”

The IPCC report looks at the potential contribution from renewable energy technologies such as biomass, geothermal, hydro, ocean, solar and wind energy, as well as their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, their integration into the energy network, their contribution to sustainable development, and the policies which are needed to put them in place.

Wind power alone is capable of supplying over 100% of future demand, and solar has even higher potential.

“One key message from the report is that renewable energy sources will be paramount in the global battle against climate change, and their role in saving greenhouse gas emissions will be considerably more important than that of natural gas, carbon capture and storage, or nuclear power,” Sawyer says.

“However, it is up to policy makers to make this happen with adequate support and long-term commitment. One crucial opportunity for this will be the next round of climate negotiations in South Africa in December this year.”

In 2009, renewable energy contributed around 12.9% of global primary energy supply and 19% of the global electricity supply.

World wind capacity by the end of 2010 was enough to power 2.5% of global electricity demand, and according to the IPCC, this could reach 25% in 2050.