Wind vitality powered 20% of all electrical energy consumed in Europe (19% within the EU) in 2024, and the EU has set a aim to develop this share to 34% by 2030 and greater than 50% by 2050.
To remain on observe, the EU wants to put in 30 GW of latest wind farms yearly, however it solely managed 13 GW in 2024 – 11.4 GW onshore and 1.4 GW offshore. That is what’s holding the EU again from reaching its wind progress targets.
Three massive issues holding Europe’s wind energy again
Europe’s wind energy progress is stalling for 3 key causes:
Allowing delays. Many governments haven’t carried out the EU’s new allowing guidelines, making it more durable for initiatives to maneuver ahead.
Grid connection bottlenecks. Over 500 GW(!) of potential wind capability is caught in grid connection queues.
Gradual electrification. Europe’s economic system isn’t electrifying quick sufficient to drive demand for extra renewable vitality.
Brussels-based commerce affiliation WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson summed it up: “The EU should urgently sort out all three issues. Extra wind means cheaper energy, which implies elevated competitiveness.”
Allowing: Germany units the usual
Allowing stays an enormous roadblock, regardless of new EU guidelines aimed toward streamlining the method. Actually, the state of affairs worsened in 2024 in lots of international locations. The brilliant spot? Germany. By embracing the EU’s allowing guidelines — with measures like binding deadlines and treating wind vitality as a public curiosity precedence — Germany accredited a document 15 GW of latest onshore wind in 2024. That’s seven occasions greater than 5 years in the past.
If different governments observe Germany’s lead, Europe may unlock the total potential of wind vitality and bolster vitality safety.
Grid connections: a rising disaster
Entry to the electrical energy grid is now the most important impediment to deploying wind vitality. And it’s not nearly lengthy queues — Europe’s grid infrastructure isn’t increasing quick sufficient to maintain up with demand. A obtrusive instance is Germany’s 900-megawatt (MW) Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm. The generators are able to go, however the grid connection gained’t be in place till 2026.
This challenge isn’t remoted. Governments have to speed up grid enlargement in the event that they’re severe about assembly renewable vitality targets.
Electrification: falling behind
Wind vitality’s progress can also be tied to how shortly Europe electrifies its economic system. Proper now, electrical energy accounts for simply 23% of the EU’s complete vitality consumption. That should soar to 61% by 2050 to align with local weather targets. Nonetheless, electrification efforts in key sectors like transportation, heating, and business are shifting too slowly.
European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen has tasked Vitality Commissioner Dan Jørgensen with crafting an Electrification Motion Plan. That may’t come quickly sufficient.
Extra wind farms awarded, however challenges persist
On a optimistic notice, governments throughout Europe awarded a document 37 GW of latest wind capability (29 GW within the EU) in 2024. However with out quicker allowing, higher grid connections, and elevated electrification, these awards gained’t translate into the clear energy-producing wind farms Europe desperately wants.
Investments and company curiosity
Investments in wind vitality totaled €31 billion in 2024, financing 19 GW of latest capability. Whereas onshore wind investments remained sturdy at €24 billion, offshore wind funding noticed a dip. Closing funding choices for offshore initiatives stay difficult attributable to sluggish allowing and grid delays.
Company shoppers proceed to point out sturdy curiosity in wind vitality. Half of all electrical energy contracted beneath Energy Buy Agreements (PPAs) in 2024 was wind. Devoted wind PPAs have been 4 GW out of a complete of 12 GW of renewable PPAs.
Learn extra: Renewables may meet nearly half of worldwide electrical energy demand by 2030 – IEA
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