Boosting Europe’s Energy Future Through Accelerated Wind Deployment

Boosting Europe’s Energy Future Through Accelerated Wind Deployment

(IN BRIEF) At its 2025 annual event in Copenhagen, the European wind industry outlined a call to action to help Europe address growing energy security and competitiveness challenges amidst economic uncertainty and evolving energy dynamics. The industry highlighted that wind power, presently accounting for 20% of Europe’s electricity, must be scaled up to 35% by 2030 and above 50% by 2050. Energy-intensive sectors are increasingly favoring wind due to its cost advantages and ability to mitigate the price volatility associated with fossil fuel imports. The “Copenhagen Call for Action” calls for governments to simplify permitting processes—citing Germany’s recent success—increase support for renewable electrification through state aid and tax adjustments, and stabilize wind investments with assured Contract for Difference auctions. With more than €11 billion already being invested in the European wind supply chain to meet Clean Industrial Deal objectives, industry leader Henrik Andersen stressed that immediate and coordinated efforts are crucial to drive industrial growth and bolster Europe’s energy resilience. The event, attracting over 15,000 participants from 8-10 April, served as a crucial platform for forging a sustainable path forward for European wind energy.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRUSSELS, 8-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — At WindEurope’s Annual Event 2025 in Copenhagen, industry leaders gathered to address Europe’s energy security and competitiveness challenges amid unprecedented market conditions. As a native and cost-effective energy source, wind power is well-positioned to play a pivotal role, yet its current growth pace is inadequate. The wind industry’s “Copenhagen Call for Action” outlines three straightforward measures to enhance Europe’s energy independence and competitive edge.

In response to the EU’s new Clean Industrial Deal—which prioritizes electrification and renewable energy expansion as cornerstones of industrial policy—there is an urgent need to accelerate wind power development. Today, wind energy contributes about 20% of Europe’s electricity, but the EU aims to boost this share to 35% by 2030 and over 50% by 2050.

Energy-intensive industries are increasingly favoring wind, finding it more cost-effective than fossil fuels even when accounting for grid integration and system expenses. Being locally generated, wind energy not only reduces reliance on imported fossil fuels but also stabilizes energy prices, thereby helping European businesses lower their energy costs while supporting electrification.

The expanding European wind energy supply chain is investing more than €11 billion in new manufacturing facilities to fulfill the ambitions of the Clean Industrial Deal. However, several obstacles continue to restrain further growth: onerous permitting processes, slow grid expansion, poorly designed auction schemes, and inadequate electrification of end-use sectors. Despite these challenges, Europe’s wind capacity must scale up urgently, especially as electricity currently represents only 23% of the continent’s total energy consumption— a share that has been surpassed by countries like China due to their rapid electrification drive.

To overcome these barriers, the European wind industry urges Governments to:

• Enforce the new EU permitting rules, which have already proven their effectiveness—Germany, for instance, has increased onshore wind permits sevenfold compared to five years ago—and clear out nonviable projects clogging grid connection pipelines.
• Eliminate obstacles to electrification by allowing industry access to state aid for renewable Power Purchase Agreements that extend beyond onsite generation, and by removing non-energy levies from electricity bills to make renewables more competitive.
• Secure wind investment by establishing a stable stream of two-sided Contract for Difference auctions, which enhance capital cost efficiency, provide revenue predictability, and present excellent value for Governments.

Henrik Andersen, Chairman of WindEurope, emphasized the critical nature of this transitional moment. He stated that scaling wind energy is essential for securing Europe’s global economic influence by providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy. He called on European Governments and industry partners to seize the opportunity presented by the Copenhagen event to implement effective actions that will drive industrial growth and energy independence across the continent.

Read the Copenhagen Call to Action

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SOURCE: WindEurope