01/15/2026, 07:1001/15/2026, 07:13
Europe continues to lag significantly behind its wind energy targets. In order to achieve the goal of more than 40 percent renewable energy by 2030, there must be significantly more wind turbines in the EU. According to the wind industry association, the expansion is going too slowly.
By 2030, renewable energies are expected to account for 42.5 percent of total energy consumption in the European Union.Image: Keystone
According to association information, initial estimates indicate that wind turbines with a total output of 17 to 18 gigawatts (GW) were built on land and at sea on the continent last year. “This is well below what Europe needs,” said the WindEurope association.
The industry association had already lowered its forecast for 2025 from 22.5 GW to 19 GW in September. It was said that problems include a slow pace of electrification, bottlenecks in the power grid and ongoing approval problems.
By 2030, renewable energies are expected to account for 42.5 percent of total energy consumption in the European Union. In order to achieve this goal, wind power, among other things, must be significantly expanded.
Managing Director: Geopolitical situation could help
WindEurope managing director Tinne van der Straeten is still optimistic. “It is true that we are lagging behind and are not yet achieving the goals originally set,” says the former energy minister of Belgium. With the national projects and industry players being market leaders, the industry is in good condition overall. “Of course no one can guarantee that the goal will be achieved, but we have to work towards it,” said van der Straeten. “So if you don’t have a clear goal, you’ll never get there.”
Germany is currently considered a model student when it comes to expanding wind power.Image: KEYSTONE
The geopolitical uncertainties could help to advance wind energy, says van der Straeten. “In an unstable geopolitical world, we have to secure our base.” This means having access to reliable and affordable energy at all times. «Europe is currently still very energy poor and heavily dependent on imports of fossil fuels such as gas, LNG and oil. To replace this with clean sources and electricity, we can use wind energy on land and at sea.”
Germany at the top
Germany is currently considered a model student when it comes to expanding wind power. Recently, nowhere else have as many new wind turbines been built as here. Van der Straeten sees a need to catch up with the so-called Contracts for Difference – a funding instrument that is intended to help secure investments and provide planning security. “Just as the approvals were accelerated, this funding instrument should now also be implemented quickly,” says the Belgian. (sda/dpa)
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