WindEurope has called on EU leaders to prioritise electrification as a strategic response to energy security challenges as its Annual Event 2026 opens in Madrid.
The organisation said the war in Iran had reinforced the need to replace fossil fuels with homegrown electricity and highlighted wind’s growing role in Europe’s energy mix.
WindEurope added that the sector invested €45 billion in new capacity in 2025 and now delivers 20% of Europe’s electricity.
The group warned that electricity still accounts for less than 25% of total energy use, posing a risk to energy security.
WindEurope said its ‘Madrid Call to Action’ outlines ten measures to move Europe from crisis to confidence within a decade.
The proposals include fast-tracking permitting by treating wind as an overriding public interest and applying tacit approval for the next nine months.
The plan also calls for awarding at least 80% of wind bids in auctions and repowering ageing wind farms to triple output with fewer turbines.
Further measures focus on grid improvements, including prioritising connections for mature projects and scaling up equipment manufacturing through framework contracts.
WindEurope also urged multiplying EU grid funding by five while attracting private finance.
The call to action promotes demand-side measures such as zero VAT on heat pumps and electric vehicles and prioritising electrification in industrial processes.
It also advocates permanently cutting electricity taxes and simplifying state aid rules for industries switching to renewables via power purchase agreements.