Cape Town - Vestas Flash Mob Raises Awareness for Critical Global Energy Challenges

In an exceptional call for action, Vestas Wind Systems (CPH:VWS) executed a surprise stunt during the leg start of the Volvo Ocean Race in Cape Town yesterday evening. A flash mob of more than a dozen boats, one of which carried a South African children’s choir, demanded action on the critical energy challenges the world is facing today: climate change, energy poverty and water scarcity. Shortly before the race started, the choir staged a surprise performance of the world premier of the song “The Ocean” by up-and-coming artist Volunteeer.

Team Vestas Wind’s skipper, Chris Nicholson, signaled the choir to kick off the performance by passing the ensemble with his boat as he and his crew set off to Abu Dhabi. The flash mob included almost one hundred South African children from townships around Cape Town.

“Energy is the key challenge of the 21st century,” Morten Albæk, Vestas’ CMO and Group Senior Vice President said. “Vestas is dedicating its participation in the Volvo Ocean Race to raise awareness about the critical energy choices the world is facing – and the fact that wind energy is part of the solution.”

Part of a broader effort to tackle climate change, energy poverty and water scarcity, Vestas is undertaking a campaign, “A Race We Must Win,” to demand action from world leaders in the run-up to the COP21 meeting in Paris one year from now.

“In light of the risk of catastrophic climate change, 1.3 billion people living without reliable access to electricity, and 56% of available fresh water resources consumed by electricity production, we saw children today demanding a better future. Energy has a key role in this, and that’s the bigger race we must win,” Albæk added.

Vestas launched the campaign at the Volvo Ocean Race’s kick-off in Alicante in October of this year, calling for a broad coalition to tackle the three energy-related challenges. The company is advocating for a price on carbon to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the deployment of sustainably powered mini-grids to provide energy for currently underserviced communities, and the reduction of energy-related water use.

Every single day, Vestas wind turbines deliver clean energy that supports the global fight against climate change. Wind power from Vestas’ more than 52,700 wind turbines currently reduces carbon emissions by over 60 million tons of CO2 every year, while at the same time building energy security and independence.

Vestas has delivered wind energy in 73 countries, providing jobs for around 19,300 passionate people at our service and project sites, research facilities, factories and offices all over the world. With 52 per cent more megawatts installed than our closest competitor and more than 64 GW of cumulative installed capacity worldwide, Vestas is the world leader in wind energy.

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