Europe derived 20% of its electricity from wind energy in 2024, a critical milestone in the transition to renewable energy. However, according to WindEurope, the continent faces significant hurdles in scaling up its wind power infrastructure, threatening its ability to meet ambitious climate and energy targets for 2030 and beyond.

Insufficient progress on wind farm development

Europe installed 15 GW of new wind energy capacity in 2024, comprising 13 GW of onshore and 2.3 GW of offshore wind. Of this, the EU contributed 13 GW, with 11.4 GW from onshore and 1.4 GW from offshore projects. While this marks progress, it falls far short of the 30 GW per year required to meet the EU’s 2030 goal of increasing wind's share in electricity generation to 34%.

WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson emphasized the urgency, stating, “Europe is not building enough new wind farms. The EU must tackle permitting issues, grid delays, and slow electrification to accelerate progress. More wind energy means cheaper power and enhanced competitiveness.”

Key challenges

1. Permitting bottlenecks
   Many governments have failed to implement new EU permitting rules aimed at simplifying and expediting wind farm approvals. This has worsened the permitting landscape, despite success stories like Germany, which permitted nearly 15 GW of new onshore wind in 2024—a sevenfold increase compared to five years ago.

2. Grid connection delays
   Limited access to grid connections is now the most significant obstacle. Over 500 GW of potential wind energy projects are stuck in grid connection queues. A striking example is the 900 MW Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm in Germany, which is complete but awaiting grid integration until at least 2026 due to transmission delays.

3. Slow electrification rates
   Only 23% of energy consumption in the EU is currently electrified. This figure must rise to 61% by 2050 to align with climate targets. Stagnation in electrification, particularly in mobility, heating, and industry, is a pressing concern. The European Commission has tasked Commissioner Dan Jørgensen with developing an Electrification Action Plan to address this gap.

Signs of progress and investments

WindEurope also noted that governments have awarded a record 37 GW of new wind capacity in 2024 auctions, including 29 GW in the EU. This represents a promising pipeline for future projects, provided permitting and grid issues are resolved.

Investments in wind energy reached €31 billion in 2024, supporting 19 GW of new capacity. However, this figure remains insufficient, particularly for offshore wind, which saw a decline in investment compared to 2023.

Corporate appetite for wind energy

Corporate demand for wind power is surging, with wind accounting for 50% of electricity contracted under new Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in 2024. Corporates secured 4 GW of wind PPAs out of a total of 12 GW for renewables, underscoring the business case for wind energy.

Urgent action needed

For Europe to meet its 2030 targets and secure energy security, urgent action is needed to streamline permitting processes, expand grid capacity, and accelerate electrification. Without these measures, the transition to a cleaner and more competitive energy system risks significant delays.