Europe got 20% of its electricity from wind energy in 2024, but the continent is not building enough new wind farms to meet its 2030 energy targets, according to new figures out from trade group WindEurope.
Europe built 13GW of onshore wind and 2.3GW of offshore wind last year, short of the 30GW per year needed to meet the target, the organisation said.
The EU accounted for 11.4GW of onshore and 1.4GW of offshore wind.
WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson pointed to three main reasons for the shortfall of new builds: the need for new permitting rules, grid delays, and the slow electrification of the economy.
Dickson said: “More wind means cheaper power which means increased competitiveness.”
Despite the entry into force of binding new EU permitting rules, many countries have not implemented them into national law yet, WindEurope said.
Germany is an example of a country that has applied new permitting rules, and permitted almost 15GW of new onshore wind accordingly, the organisation found.
Governments must follow Germany’s example if they are serious about energy security and industrial competitiveness, WindEurope argued.
Across Europe there are some 500GW of potential wind energy waiting for an assessment of grid applications.
The trade group held up the 900MW Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm in Germany as a negative example of a project that is fully installed but waiting for grid connection.
The Transmission System Operator will not be able to connect the wind farm to the German grid before 2026.
Meanwhile Europe needs to electrify its economy faster, WindEurope added.
Electricity accounted for 23% of all energy consumed in the EU.
The number needs to increase to 61% by 2050, WindEurope said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has tasked Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen to present an Electrification Action Plan.
This cannot happen fast enough, WindEurope said.