France and Germany have awarded more than 3 GW of new onshore wind capacity in their latest auction rounds, reinforcing the role of wind power in Europe's energy transition while highlighting the need for more predictable auction schedules, according to WindEurope.

The industry association said the two auctions were heavily oversubscribed, reflecting strong developer interest and resulting in lower strike prices for new projects. While the awards are expected to strengthen energy security and reduce electricity costs, WindEurope warned that governments must provide greater long-term market visibility to sustain investment and support Europe's electrification goals.

Onshore wind remains the dominant segment of the European wind industry. According to WindEurope, 94% of all new wind capacity installed in Europe last year was onshore, and the technology is expected to account for nearly 80% of new wind installations through 2030.

France awards 0.8 GW as competition drives lower prices

France awarded 0.8 GW of new onshore wind capacity in its latest auction after receiving bids totalling 2.4 GW, making the round significantly oversubscribed.

The strong competition pushed the average strike price down to €77/MWh, around €10/MWh lower than in previous auction rounds.

Repowering projects accounted for 66% of the awarded capacity, following recent regulatory changes that simplified permitting for certain repowering projects.

However, WindEurope said the high number of bids should not be interpreted solely as a sign of market strength. According to the association, France's relatively modest auction volumes and the lack of visibility beyond 2026 have encouraged developers to submit projects earlier than planned, including some that have not yet secured all required permits.

"France's onshore wind pipeline is a huge asset," said Pierre Tardieu, Chief Policy Officer at WindEurope, arguing that the country needs multi-year auction planning to support the electrification of industry, buildings and transport with competitively priced electricity.

Germany awards 2.5 GW as permitting reforms boost competition

Germany awarded 2.5 GW of new onshore wind capacity in its latest auction, continuing a trend of increasingly competitive tenders following major improvements in permitting.

According to WindEurope, Germany approved 21 GW of onshore wind projects in 2025 and is on track to exceed that figure in 2026, reversing years of undersubscribed auctions.

The latest auction produced an average strike price of €51/MWh, with the lowest successful bid reaching €44/MWh.

WindEurope compared those prices with estimates from Fraunhofer ISE, which puts the cost of electricity from new nuclear power plants in Germany at €139-490/MWh. The institute also estimates generation costs of €109-187/MWh for new gas-fired plants, €173-293/MWh for new hard coal plants and €151-257/MWh for new lignite plants.

Despite the positive auction outcome, WindEurope warned that intense competition can also create excessive cost pressure on developers, increasing the risk that some projects may ultimately fail to be delivered.

To address that risk, the association called on the German government to increase future auction volumes, including the additional 12 GW of auctions planned by 2030.

According to Pierre Tardieu, Germany has built a strong pipeline of permitted projects and should now focus on making sufficient auction volumes available rather than creating artificial scarcity in the market.