Wind projects could shore up revenue and jobs for the economies of Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, and Morocco which have a combined potential of 3.5 GW, Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) said in a recent report.

These countries can generate additional revenues of  $12.5 billion and create 130,000 full-time equivalent work years over the next five years by tapping into the vast potential of wind energy.

However, these countries can achieve the full potential of wind capacity addition if they dismantle the barriers of policy frameworks, transmission infrastructure, and permitting programs. It would help them expedite their capacity addition and rake in higher benefits.

Argentina

Argentina has 3.3 GW of installed onshore wind capacity and is projected to install around 300 MW per year under normal circumstances from 2023 to 2027.

In an expedited scenario, Argentina could potentially install 31% more onshore wind energy capacity in the next five years.

This increase in wind energy capacity could lead to a 57% rise in full-time equivalent jobs, creating 64,000 new positions in the sector.

Additionally, it could contribute to a 45% increase in the country’s gross value, generating over $1 billion in additional economic activity.

To accelerate the shift towards wind energy, the report recommends several measures such as allowing revenue and profits from wind projects to be expatriated in dollars, incentivizing small and medium-sized decentralized projects through the RenovAr program, improving industry visibility by establishing an auction pipeline with a 3-4 year timeframe, and increasing coordination between grid development and future energy generation plans.

Colombia

Colombia has a mere 23 MW of installed onshore wind capacity, with GWEC projecting that it will install between 300-800 MW per year under a normal scenario from 2023 to 2027.

In an accelerated scenario, Colombia could install 44% more onshore wind energy capacity in the next five years. This increase in wind energy could lead to almost 150,000 new full-time equivalent jobs and a remarkable 77% increase in the country’s gross value, generating an extra $3 billion in economic activity.

To accelerate the shift towards wind energy, the report recommends improving industry visibility by establishing an auction pipeline with a 3-4 year timeframe, simplifying the permitting, environmental, and social licensing process, increasing government spending commitments directed at grid modernization and expansion, promoting a reliable operation and preventing bottlenecks, and continuing to strengthen dialogue between the government and renewable energy stakeholders.

Egypt

Egypt has 1,700 MW of installed onshore wind capacity, with GWEC forecasting that it will install between 250-700 MW per year under normal circumstances between 2023 to 2027.

In the expedited scenario, Egypt could potentially install 45% more onshore wind energy capacity in the next five years, representing an additional 1.15 GW, 164,000 full-time equivalent jobs, and potentially more than $2 billion for the economy.

To accelerate the transition towards wind energy, the report recommends that the government continue to increase or at least maintain the tariffs that support wind energy, accelerate the electrification of transport and industry, and increase interconnections between neighboring countries. Additionally, the report suggests allowing private offtake agreements for larger wind projects.

Indonesia

Indonesia has 150 MW of installed onshore wind capacity, with GWEC predicting an installation rate of around 75-100 MW per year under normal circumstances between 2023 to 2027.

However, under an accelerated transition scenario, Indonesia’s onshore wind energy capacity by 26% over the next five years, adding an extra 115 MW of green electricity and creating a sector that employs more than 50,000 people, an increase of 50%.

To accelerate the transition towards wind energy, the report recommends that the government commission a government-funded study to establish optimal locations for wind energy projects and ringfence those locations for wind development only.

It also suggests increasing government spending commitments directed towards grid modernization and expansion to promote a reliable operation and prevent bottlenecks. Finally, the report recommends promoting energy mix diversification and competitive procurement processes to ensure low-cost renewable energy supply meets decarbonization commitments.

Morocco

Morocco has 1,512 MW of installed onshore wind capacity and is expected to install about 200-510 MW per year under a business-as-usual scenario from 2023 to 2027.

However, under an accelerated transition scenario, Morocco could install 43% more onshore wind energy capacity in the next five years. This means the country could add an extra 638 MW of capacity, creating another 75,000 jobs and generating over $1 billion in additional economic activity.

To accelerate wind energy development in Morocco, some recommendations are to equalize grid costs for independent power producers and ONEE, allow wind and solar projects to share grid connection points, use Morocco’s green hydrogen targets to further incentivize wind energy production, and facilitate power purchase agreement matchmaking.

A previous report in early 2022 studied the socioeconomic benefits for Brazil, India, Mexico, South Africa, and The Philippines. The study found that typically a 1 GW/year installation rate over five years could unlock $18 billion in gross value added to the national economies of these countries over wind farms’ lifetime.

According to GWEC, onshore wind installations in India is forecasted at 4.1 GW in 2023.