Wind energy will have a key role to play in countries aiming to go in for 100 per cent renewable energy in the future.

The World Wind Energy Association plans to create a network of cities in different countries that are committing to go in for 100 per cent renewable energy, secretary general of the association Stefan Graenger told The Hindu here recently.

The association is collecting details of individual buildings, towns and cities that have already gone in for 100 per cent renewable energy. The information will be available online. The concept of 100 per cent renewable energy is discussed at the global level in several countries now. It can be expedited when success stories and examples at the local and national-levels are highlighted.

Wind energy will have a key role to play in countries aiming to go in for 100 per cent renewable energy in the future, he said.

In India, wind resource and investors are available and the Government is also giving priority to renewable energy. The problem of integration with the grid can be resolved by looking at countries that have done it successfully. India can also come with systems and show to other countries how to address issues such as fluctuation in wind energy generation.

In many countries, the grid operator has a key role to play in integration of wind energy generated with the grid.

The installed global wind energy capacity is to cross 400 GW. Last year, 52 GW wind turbines were sold, making it the highest volume sold in a year, he said. China, the U.S., Germany and India are among the leading countries in installed wind energy capacity.

“There is very strong growth in Asia. In terms of per cent of growth, there are new countries such as Brazil and Uruguay that are seeing rapid development,” he said.

Among the new investments made in energy generation, on shore wind energy is the lowest and the average capacity of a wind turbine installed is two MW. Off shore turbines are concentrated in specific markets such as the U.K. “Hybrid renewable energy systems have an important role to play in off grid rural electrification projects,” he says. Such systems are common in the African countries.