-- Global Wind Day is celebrated on 15 June

BRUSSELS, June 15, 2015 -- As the global climate crisis deepens, and political attention to climate increases in the run up to the Paris Climate summit in December, on Global Wind Day we celebrate the fact that more and more companies are turning to clean, reliable and cost-effective wind energy to power their businesses. Global Wind Day is a worldwide event that occurs annually on 15 June. It is a day for discovering wind energy, its power and the possibilities it holds to reshape our energy systems, decarbonise our economies and boost jobs and growth.

Wind energy has become fully mainstream and is today one of the fastest growing industrial sectors in the world, attracting $100 billion in investment in 2014. This shows that wind power doesn't only make sense environmentally and socially, but it is also cost-competitive. Onshore wind power is now cheaper than conventional energy sources in an expanding number of markets worldwide.

"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 commitment to wind, solar and climate action. Other companies running their businesses increasingly on wind power include BMW, General Motors, Nissan, Honda, CEMEX, Heineken, LEGO, IKEA, 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.