Study Duration: 4 minutes
Europe installed 16.4 GW of wind energy, with 12.9 GW coming from the EU, according to WindEurope’s 2024 Statistics. However, this does not meet the level necessary to achieve the EU’s energy security objectives, accounting for less than half of the required expansion. Advancement is being obstructed by challenges such as prolonged permitting reviews, delayed grid expansion, and insufficient electrification. WindEurope’s latest Outlook for 2025-30 emphasizes the urgency to double yearly wind capacity installations by the end of this decade. Maintaining this momentum would enable wind power to generate the majority of the clean electricity needed to fulfill the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal.
The EU established 12.9 GW of new wind energy capacity in 2024. Overall, Europe set up 16.4 GW. 84% of this was from onshore wind sources. Germany added the most new wind capacity, exceeding 4 GW. The UK, France, Finland, Türkiye, Spain, and Sweden each constructed more than 1 GW.
The proportion of wind in Europe’s electricity consumption stood at 20%. In Denmark, it reached 56%. Eight other nations derived at least a quarter of their power from wind – including Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands. €32 billion in investments have been finalized for new wind farms that will be developed in the forthcoming years. This represents 20 GW of new capacity.
Europe awarded more new wind capacity in government auctions than previously seen. The 37 GW assigned (29 GW in the EU) are ostensibly good news for future projects and development. We anticipate that Europe will install 187 GW of new wind power from 2025 to 2030, with 140 GW in the EU. However, if governments do not expedite permitting and enhance grid infrastructure, many of these projects will face delays.
Further action is required on permitting and grids
“Europe’s wind energy continues to expand, but only at half the pace we require. This is a significant missed chance. Each wind turbine built in Europe contributes to reducing electricity expenses for businesses and households. Three factors are inhibiting our progress: cumbersome permitting, slow grid development, and inadequate electrification,” states WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson.
The EU possesses excellent new permitting regulations, yet most countries are not fully utilizing them. Germany is experiencing remarkable gains. They approved seven times more onshore wind last year compared to five years ago. Other governments must follow their example.
Europe is still not optimizing and expanding its electricity grids quickly enough. Hundreds of GW of new wind farms are currently waiting for grid connection permits. Some nations are now sorting grid connection queues to give precedence to more mature or strategic projects or to achieve the right balance between technologies. All countries should adopt this approach. Additionally, enhancing grid planning through preemptive investments and unlocking private finance is essential.
The EU Clean Industrial Deal
Recently, the European Commission introduced the Clean Industrial Deal, a new strategy aimed at bolstering the competitiveness of the EU economy. The plan underscores the vital role of electrification in preserving Europe’s industrial advantage. However, the EU’s electrification rate has remained stagnant at under 25% over the past decade, while China has outpaced this, solidifying its competitive edge. WindEurope Chief Policy Officer Pierre Tardieu outlines the key aspects of the Clean Industrial Deal.
Achieving electrification for a competitive Europe
Key sectors within the European economy are anticipating a substantial increase in their electricity demand by 2040. They are turning to the wind sector for solutions. The chemical sector expects its electricity consumption to rise from 195 TWh in 2030 to 290 TWh in 2040. The cement industry looks to increase from 32 TWh in 2030 to 76 TWh in 2040. Additionally, the already highly electrified aluminium sector forecasts growth from 70 TWh to 100 TWh.
Wind energy is uniquely positioned to satisfy that escalating demand due to its scalability and high capacity factors. 1 GW of wind produces twice as much electricity as 1 GW of solar. Sustained wind deployment in the EU during the 2030s – 30 GW annually, of which 20 GW will be onshore wind and 10 GW offshore – would enable wind to nearly quadruple its electricity output compared to today, delivering 1,830 TWh by 2040.
The European wind energy supply chain is already ramping up. The industry is currently investing over €10 billion to build new facilities for blades, towers, cables, and offshore substations, or to expand existing ones.
