Wind energy takes center stage in the first weekly recap of 2025
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.
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.”
In a recent conference held at his Florida resort, US President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to halt the construction of wind turbines across the country. "We are going to have a policy where no windmills will be built," Trump declared, reiterating his long-standing opposition to this form of renewable energy.
Trump described wind turbines as "garbage" that is polluting the nation. He claimed that wind energy is "the most expensive energy out there" and significantly costlier than clean natural gas. He also criticized what he called the "massive subsidies" that the US government provides to the wind industry.
In 2024, for the first time in history, wind energy was the largest source of electricity generation in Great Britain, accounting for 30%.
According to a report from the National Grid ESO (NESO), renewables generated more than 50% of electricity for four consecutive quarters (Q4 2023 - Q3 2024) for the first time, with an average of 51% during 2024.
During the past year, several factors combined to drive new records in wind intensity.
On September 30, the Ratcliffe power station was decommissioned for the last time, marking the end of 142 years of coal-fired electricity generation in Great Britain. To replace traditional coal supply, renewables played a crucial role, especially solar energy and biomass.
A new report from the US Department of Energy (DOE) reveals promising developments in the recycling of decommissioned wind turbines, suggesting that 90% of wind turbine mass can already be processed using existing US infrastructure. The report also highlights the need for further investment in innovative recycling strategies to address the remaining 10%, helping to boost sustainability and support a circular economy in the wind energy sector.
The study, titled Recycling Wind Energy Systems in the United States Part 1: Providing a Baseline for America’s Wind Energy Recycling Infrastructure for Wind Turbines and Systems, outlines key recommendations for expanding the recycling and reuse of wind energy materials. It emphasizes the potential to significantly improve the sustainability of wind energy by recycling turbine components and materials in more efficient ways.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is seeking nominations for potential offshore wind leasing areas off the coast of the US Pacific territory of Guam.
This call will collect public comments to inform the identification of potential leasing areas and is the result of close collaboration with the Government of Guam, which aims to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2035 and 100% by 2045.
BOEM director, Elizabeth Klein, noted that the responsible development of offshore wind energy along Guam's coastline presents a vital opportunity to expand clean energy, reduce carbon emissions, and lower energy costs for Guam residents.
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