Blue Academy: Ensuring the Environmental and Social Sustainability of Offshore Wind in Emerging Markets I 9 May 2023 I 9:00-12:00 EST I Hybrid

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About the event

 

The Blue Academy Learning series, a new training program led by PROBLUE and organized in cooperation with the WBG Open Learning Campus (OLC), offers World Bank Group (WBG) staff and external experts the opportunities to learn about PROBLUE supported blue economy tools and activities. 

This edition of the Blue Academy focuses on the sustainability of offshore wind in developing countries, and is co-organised with the World Bank Group's Offshore Wind Development Program, co-led by the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

During the past 30 years, the offshore wind industry has delivered over 64 GW of capacity, from at least 12,000 turbines, installed across 19 countries. During the next 30 years, far more capacity needs to be delivered; modelling of global decarbonization scenarios suggests that the world will need at least 2,000 GW of offshore wind to be operating by 2050.  

With a technical potential of over 16,000 GW in developing countries, offshore wind has the potential to deliver large-scale, clean electricity at competitive prices, reduce carbon emissions, and create significant economic opportunities. Since its start in 2019, the WBG’s Offshore Wind Development Program has supported 23 countries to assess and plan the roll-out of this relatively new renewable energy technology.  

While offshore wind could provide substantial contributions to the decarbonization of many developing countries, its deployment must be sustainable, making responsible and efficient use of the marine space and avoiding adverse environmental and social impacts. PROBLUE has provided funding to WBG’s Offshore Wind Development Program to advise developing countries on the sustainability of offshore wind development, focusing on E&S topics including planning and mitigation. 

Join us for this event, which will focus on sustainable development of the offshore wind sector in developing countries. The workshop will share good practices and lessons learnt, while showcasing the tools, analysis and activities undertaken by the WBG's Offshore Wind Development Program. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn from experiences in developing offshore wind markets in Colombia, India, Philippines and Vietnam. This event is accessible both in person and virtually for World Bank Group staff and external participants.

Event Recording

Watch the even recording here: https://youtu.be/1hOaHNJQGsI

 

Program

Opening Remarks

  • Christian Peter, Practice Manager, Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Global Practice, World Bank
  • Nuru Lama, Chief Investment Officer, International Finance Corporation

Overview of Global Offshore Wind Development and WBG's Offshore Wind Development Program

  • Mark Leybourne, Senior Energy Specialist, Offshore Wind, Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), World Bank

Ensuring the Sustainability of Offshore Wind in Developing Countries

  • Lori Anna Conzo, Global Biodiversity Lead, Sustainability & Gender Solutions Department, International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Panel Discussion: Spatial Planning to Inform the Impact, Risk, and Cost of Offshore Wind Development

  • Chair: Jackie Alder, Senior Blue Economy Consultant, Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Global Practice, World Bank
  • Michele Quesada da Silva, International consultant on Marine Spatial Planning, UNESCO IOC
  • Luanita Snyman-Van der Walt, Environmental Geospatial Scientist, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa
  • Peter Burston, Senior Strategic Director and Strategic Director, Renewables, The Biodiversity Consultancy
  • John Begala, Vice President for State and Federal Policy, The Business Network for Offshore Wind

Interactive demonstration of 'SCALE' offshore wind spatial planning tool

  • Stephen Caraher, Senior Digital Energy Consultant and Chartered Engineer, Arup

Panel Discussion: Offshore Wind Benefits, Impacts, and Mitigation

  • Chair: Sean Whittaker, Principal Industry Specialist, IFC
  • Pernille Skyt, Consultant, Energy and Extractives Global Practice, World Bank
  • Roberta Cox, Head of Offshore Wind Licensing, IBAMA, Brazil
  • Katherine Lee, Federal Affairs Lead, Americas, Orsted
  • Aonghais Cook, Principal Ecologist, Offshore Renewable Energy, The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)

Closing Remarks

  • Julien Million, Senior Fisheries Specialist, Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Global Practice, World Bank
  • Mark Leybourne, Senior Energy Specialist, Offshore Wind, Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), World Bank

The event will be moderated by: Mercy Amai Emojong, Young Professional, Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Global Practice, World Bank

For any questions about the event, please contact Dijana Ferizovic at dferizovic@worldbank.org.