EU wind energy

The EU, a global leader on wind

The EU has helped develop wind power thanks to its ambitious policies and investments. European companies have invaluable experience by being 'first movers'. The first offshore wind farm was installed in Denmark in 1991.

Currently, the EU is a global leader in the manufacturing of key wind turbine components, as well as in the foundations and cables industry: almost half of the active companies in the wind sector (onshore and offshore) are headquartered in the EU.

To explore offshore sites further out to sea with stronger and more consistent winds, several European developers are working on floating offshore wind turbines. Multiple pilot projects are already up and running, with deployment expected to accelerate towards the end of this decade.

The wind sector is also a significant contributor to the EU economy, boosting growth and creating long-term sustainable jobs. According to Wind Europe’s competitiveness report 2023, the wind industry provided around 300 000 jobs in the EU in 2022. Under the REPowerEU targets, the number of jobs is estimated to grow to 936 000 by 2030.

EU Wind Power Package

Wind energy manufacturing, together with other competitive net-zero industries, supports the EU's transition to climate neutrality, while also creating growth and jobs.

To accelerate wind energy manufacturing across Europe, the Commission presented the EU Wind Power Package in October 2023. It consists of 2 initiatives – the European Wind Power Action Plan and a communication on achieving the EU’s offshore wind ambitions.

European Wind Power Action Plan

The Action Plan (COM/2023/669) is based on 6 pillars: accelerating deployment through faster permitting and increased predictability, improved auction design, access to finance, creating a fair and competitive international environment, skills, industry engagement, and EU country’s commitments.

It includes 15 actions to be urgently undertaken by the key public and private actors involved. Following up on 2 of these actions, the vast majority of EU countries, together with many leading industry representatives, signed a European Wind Charter on 19 December 2023 in which they agreed to a set of voluntary commitments to support the development of Europe’s wind sector. At the same occasion, 21 EU countries submitted their concrete pledges on wind energy deployment volumes for at least the period 2024-2026. The pledges show their commitment to accelerate and ramp-up the deployment of both onshore and offshore wind in the EU.

Implemented actions

On accelerating deployment, the Permitting Regulation was prolonged until June 2025, the Recommendation and Guidance on permitting were updated, the Guidance on Renewables Acceleration Areas published and the Renewable Energy Auctions platform launched.
The Commission adopted a Recommendation and guidance in May 2024 to improve auction design and supported co-legislators to agree on the inclusion of pre-qualification and award non-price criteria in auctions under the Net-Zero Industry Act.
To facilitate access to finance, the Commission expanded the possibility to support wind energy manufacturing under the Innovation Fund, which awarded 6 grants to wind manufacturing projects in call IF23. Furthermore, the EIB created a wind counter-guarantee tool, under which first operations with commercial banks were signed in 2024.
To ensure a fair and competitive international environment, the Commission is working to facilitate access to third country markets, while also monitoring possible unfair trade practices, which benefit foreign wind manufacturers, including through the Foreign Subsidies Regulation.
A proposal to set up a Blueprint Alliance on skills in the renewable energy sector was selected under the 2024 Erasmus+ call for proposals.

Communication on achieving the EU’s offshore wind ambitions

Renewables auctions platform

As the Action Plan states that the EU should double the share of renewables in its energy consumption by 2030, it is critical to provide the renewable energy industry with stable and long-term investment signals.

Under the Renewable Energy Directive, EU countries have an obligation to publish a long-term schedule of the expected allocation of support for renewables, covering at least 5 years ahead.

Launched in May 2024, the RES Auctions Platform provides details on planned auctions across the EU, such as timing, frequency, volumes to be supported, and budget and technologies that are eligible.

It is a single point of information for all renewable energy auctions in the EU, helping the industry to better plan investments in manufacturing capacity, increase bankability and bolster their business case.

Wind power facts

Wind is a clean and abundant energy source used to generate electricity. It can be harnessed either on land (onshore) or at sea (offshore).

Continued improvements in manufacturing and wind turbine design combined with improved capacity factors (more electricity generated per turbine) installed, due to more performant turbines and/or better localisation, for example, have driven down the costs of wind power and reaffirmed its position as a key driver of the clean energy transition.

According to Eurostat, wind accounted for 39.1% of the total electricity generated from renewable sources in the EU in 2024. The below key figures from Eurostat show a steady increase in EU’s wind generation capacity. However, it is still not enough to meet the EU's energy and climate targets by 2030. The EU and the wind industry have therefore committed to ramp up both onshore and offshore wind in the coming years.

188 GW

2021

204 GW

2022

219 GW

2023