According to a report by Wind Europe, Europe saw significant growth in its wind power capacity in 2024, with the installation of 16.4 GW of new wind energy. Of this, the EU-27 was responsible for 12.9 GW. Onshore wind accounted for the majority of these new installations, making up 84% (13.8 GW) of the total, while 2.6 GW of new offshore capacity was connected to the grid.

With these additions, Europe now has a total wind power capacity of 285 GW, comprising 248 GW of onshore and 37 GW of offshore wind. The EU-27 accounts for 231 GW of this capacity, with 210 GW from onshore wind and 21 GW from offshore projects.

Germany leads wind expansion

The report highlights that Germany emerged as the leader in new wind power installations in 2024, adding 4 GW of capacity, largely due to its accelerated onshore wind expansion. The UK and France followed, installing 1.9 GW and 1.7 GW respectively, both contributing to onshore and offshore developments.

Wind energy investment and future projections

In addition, Wind Europe says that investment in wind energy saw substantial growth, with €33 billion raised for new wind projects in 2024. This funding is expected to support 19.9 GW of additional capacity in the coming years.

Looking ahead, Europe is projected to install 187 GW of new wind capacity between 2025 and 2030. The EU-27 is set to contribute 140 GW of this, averaging 23 GW per year. If achieved, this would bring total wind capacity to 450 GW in Europe and 351 GW in the EU-27 by 2030. However, to meet the EU's renewable energy target of 42.5%, installations must reach 425 GW within the EU by the end of the decade.

Wind’s role in national energy mixes

Denmark had the highest share of wind energy in its electricity mix in 2024, with wind providing 56% of its total power. Other nations with at least 30% wind energy penetration included Ireland (33%), Sweden (31%), Germany (30%), and the UK (30%). An additional six countries, including the Netherlands (29%), Portugal (28%), Lithuania (27%), Spain (25%), Finland (24%), and Greece (22%), saw wind contributing at least 20% to their national electricity demand.

Sustained deployment of wind power throughout the 2030s is expected to enable wind energy generation in the EU to nearly quadruple by 2040 compared to current levels. With continued investment and expansion, wind power will play a crucial role in Europe’s transition to a more sustainable energy system.