European wind turbine orders in the third quarter of 2022 fell by 36% compared with the same quarter of 2021, according to research from WindEurope.
The group tracked orders for new wind turbines, all of which were onshore, with a total of 2GW in Q3 2022. The orders came from nine countries with Finland ordering most new capacity, 322 MW, followed by Sweden and Germany.
This brings total orders in 2022 to 7.7GW – far off from what Europe needs to reach its energy and climate targets. The EU wants 510GW of wind energy by 2030. This means the wind industry should install 39GW of new wind each year up to 2030.
At the current rate of turbine orders Europe would fall well short of this target.
WindEurope warned that inflationary cost pressures, slow permitting and uncertainty around the EU’s emergency electricity market interventions are stalling orders for new wind turbines.
“Alongside improvements to permitting, investors and developers need clarity on future revenues to be able to move ahead with new projects and order new turbines,” a group statement warned. “National Governments must clarify their approach to revenue caps on inframarginal producers of electricity (such as wind) as soon as possible in line with the industry’s 6 recommendations.
“Slow permitting and insufficient market size continue to harm the European wind energy supply chain. And costs for raw materials, components and international shipping have risen sharply, increasing the pressure on the European wind industry. The industry needs political support.”