Europe installed 19 GW of new wind capacity last year – up from 16 GW in 2024 – with onshore wind driving growth at over 17 GW while offshore reached just 2 GW – the lowest since 2016 due to construction delays, according to WindEurope’s Annual Statistics Report.
Germany led additions with 5.2 GW, followed by Türkiye (2.1 GW), Sweden (1.8 GW) and Spain (1.6 GW). Lithuania shone brightest, adding 759 MW – a 40% capacity jump that covered 33% of its electricity demand and aided decoupling from Russia’s power grid.
The pipeline shows 151 GW is now planned through 2030, including 112 GW in the EU where Germany will supply over a third. Grids, permitting and electrification remain key hurdles elsewhere despite €45bn (US$53bn) invested last year.
EU ministers will come under mounting pressure at the Energy Council meeting on 16 March, as potential reforms to the European Trading System (ETS) risk undermining market certainty and weakening the long-term economic viability of future wind energy projects.
