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Europe constructed 16.4 GW of wind power, 12.9 GW within the EU, in keeping with WindEurope’s 2024 Statistics. Nevertheless, this falls in need of the extent wanted to fulfill the EU’s power safety targets, protecting lower than half of the required growth. Progress is being hindered by challenges equivalent to sluggish allowing processes, delayed grid growth, and insufficient electrification. WindEurope’s newest Outlook for 2025-30 highlights the necessity to double annual wind capability additions by the top of the last decade. Sustaining this tempo would allow wind power to supply nearly all of the clear electrical energy important for reaching the EU’s Clear Industrial Deal.
The EU constructed 12.9 GW of recent wind power capability in 2024. Europe constructed 16.4 GW. 84% of that was onshore wind. Germany put in probably the most new wind capability, greater than 4 GW. The UK, France, Finland, Türkiye, Spain and Sweden all constructed greater than 1 GW.
The share of wind in Europe’s electrical energy consumption was 20%. In Denmark, it was 56%. Eight different international locations acquired a minimum of 1 / 4 of their electrical energy from wind – amongst them Germany, the UK and the Netherlands. €32bn of investments have been finalised in new wind farms that shall be constructed within the coming years. That’s 20 GW of recent capability.
Europe awarded extra new wind capability in Authorities auctions than ever earlier than. The 37 GW awarded (29 GW within the EU) are in idea excellent news for the long run pipeline and build-out. We count on Europe to put in 187 GW of recent wind energy between 2025-2030, 140 GW within the EU. However until Governments ship on accelerating allowing and increasing the grid, many of those initiatives will get delayed.
Extra must occur on allowing and grids
“Europe’s wind power continues to develop however solely at half the speed we want. That’s an enormous missed alternative. Each wind turbine in-built Europe helps deliver down electrical energy costs for companies and households. Three issues are holding us again: cumbersome allowing, sluggish grid build-out and inadequate electrification”, says WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson.
The EU has glorious new allowing guidelines, however most international locations are nonetheless not making use of them. Germany is reaping spectacular advantages. They permitted 7 occasions as a lot onshore wind final 12 months as 5 years in the past. Different Governments must observe go well with.
Europe remains to be not optimising and increasing its electrical energy grids quick sufficient. Tons of of GWs of recent wind farms are presently ready for his or her grid connection allow. Some international locations are actually filtering grid connection queues to prioritise the extra mature or strategic initiatives or to get the correct stability between applied sciences. All international locations ought to do that. And enhance grid planning by making anticipatory investments and unlocking non-public finance.
The EU Clear Industrial Deal
Not too long ago, the European Fee launched the Clear Industrial Deal, a brand new technique geared toward strengthening the competitiveness of the EU financial system. The plan highlights the essential position of electrification in sustaining Europe’s industrial edge. Nevertheless, the EU’s electrification fee has remained stagnant at below 25% for the previous decade, whereas China has surpassed this, reinforcing its aggressive benefit. WindEurope Chief Coverage Officer Pierre Tardieu breaks down the important thing measures of the Clear Industrial Deal.
Delivering on electrification for a aggressive Europe
Main sectors within the European financial system count on a big improve of their electrical energy demand to 2040. They’re knocking on the door of the wind sector to ship. Chemical compounds see their electrical energy demand growing from 195 TWh in 2030 to 290 TWh in 2040. Cement expects a rise from 32 TWh in 2030 to 76 TWh in 2040. And the already extremely electrified aluminium sector expects to develop from 70 TWh to 100 TWh.
Wind is uniquely positioned to fulfill that rising demand contemplating its scalability and excessive capability components. 1 GW of wind provides you twice as a lot electrical energy than 1 GW of photo voltaic. Sustained wind deployment within the EU within the 2030s – 30 GW p.a. of which 20 GW are onshore wind and 10 GW are offshore wind – would enable wind to virtually quadruple its electrical energy output in contrast with as we speak, delivering 1,830 TWh by 2040.
The European wind power provide chain is already scaling up. The trade is presently investing greater than €10bn to construct new factories for blades, towers, cables, and offshore sub-stations, or increase present ones.
