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Global Wind Day: Big business turning to wind power as solution
Global Wind Day is a worldwide event that occurs annually on 15 June and it is a particularly pertinent date in the calendar this year as we look ahead to the UN climate talks in Paris in November.
It is a day for discovering wind energy, its power and the possibilities it holds to reshape our energy systems, decarbonise our economies as well as boost jobs and growth.
Today, wind energy is fully mainstream and one of the fastest growing industrial sectors in the world, attracting $100 billion in investment in 2014.
Not only is wind power beneficial for the environment but it is also a cost-competitive energy source with onshore wind power challenging conventional energy sources in a number of markets across the globe.
"Wind energy has become the favoured solution for large companies who need a reliable and consistent energy flow to power factories, operations and data centers", said Malgosia Bartosik, Acting CEO of the European Wind Energy Association.
Earlier this month, Swedish furniture giant IKEA announced a 1 billion euro commitment to wind, solar and climate action. A whole host of other companies have also taken to wind energy to power their businesses including BMW, General Motors, Nissan, Honda, CEMEX, Heineken, LEGO, Facebook, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Apple.
"Climate change is happening faster than expected, but so is the transition to renewable energy. As businesses become increasingly aware of the progress in technology and falling costs, we are seeing a rapid change in investment patterns," said Steve Sawyer, Secretary General of the Global Wind Energy Council. "Companies like IKEA pave the way for a fossil free future and give an important example for others to follow", Sawyer concluded.