WindEurope Bulletin
September 2025
8 September 2025
A word from the CEO
Dear WindEurope member,
I hope you had a good summer.
We’ve just released data on how much new wind has been built, permitted and financed so far this year. We built 6.8 GW across Europe in H1: 6 GW onshore and 0.7 GW offshore. We now expect to build 19 GW in total for the year. That’s down on the 22.5 GW we expected at the start of the year.
We expect the new build numbers for the EU-27 to rise next year to 20.1 GW and average 22 GW a year to 2030. That would give the EU 344 GW by 2030 – some way short of its 425 GW target.
There are some bright spots. H1 turbine orders at 11.3 GW are up on last year. And H1 saw €34bn of Final Investment Decisions across Europe – covering 14 GW of new capacity – which is more than the total FIDs for 2024.
But the takeaway is clear. Governments need to get their act together on wind. They’re failing to build enough new projects. Partly because most of them are not implementing the good new EU permitting rules. Partly because they’re not building out the grid fast enough. And partly because they’re not pushing electrification enough, and power demand is not growing like we expected.
Germany is doing well. They are applying the EU permitting rules and have approved 23 GW of onshore wind in the last 18 months. They’re set to build 5 GW of new onshore this year, 40% of the EU’s new onshore wind. But they have grid issues like others – the 900 MW Borkum Riffgrund offshore project remains built but unconnected.
Less new wind is bad news for Europe’s competitiveness. Industry is craving cheaper electricity to compete with China and the US. Steel and chemicals would like to electrify but can’t afford to. And their hydrogen projects are stuck. You can read the full H1 stats report here – and the implications of all this here.
What are we doing about the outstanding issues on permitting, grids and electrification?
On permitting, it’s about getting National Governments to implement the EU rules. Especially the fact that new wind (and grids and storage) now have to be treated as “overriding public interest”. Please help us plug this.
On grids, the EU Commission are adopting a Grids Package this autumn that’ll:
- push more prioritising of key projects in grid queues;
- force grid operators to make more anticipatory investments; and
- boost Europe’s grid supply chain.
Please tell us where you see bottlenecks here.
And on electrification, the EU are offering serious money to industry to help them electrify – CapEx and OpEx support. As part of their flagship “Clean Industrial Deal”. They’re also looking to de-risk the PPAs we sign with industrial offtakers. Again, please tell us when you see specific blockages here.
Can I end on a personal note. You may have seen I’m standing down as CEO of WindEurope to become a schoolteacher back in England. The WindEurope Board are now looking for a new CEO. I’ll be around until the end of this year. It’s been an honour and privilege to serve our industry these past 10 years. I’ll say a proper thank you to you all when I leave.
Kind regards,
Giles Dickson
WindEurope Intelligence Platform
Latest wind energy data for Europe: Autumn 2025
This report summarises new installations and financing activity in Europe’s wind farms from 1 January to 30 June 2025. It also provides an update on the analysis from February 2025 of how European markets will develop in the coming years (2025 to 2030). The outlook is based on WindEurope internal analysis and consultation with its members.
WindEurope Revamped – Introducing our new website!
We’ve had an online makeover! After months of preparation we launched the newly revamped WindEurope website last month. See it for yourself at windeurope.org – we hope the new streamlined look enhances your user experience!
Members’ Successes
Working together for France’s energy transition: wpd concludes strategic deal with project developer Calycé
WPD has acquired a large part of Calycé’s wind power business, a renewable energy company based in the Grand-Est region of France. Calycé’s wind power team will now become part of the wpd Group and wpd France. At the same time, a large part of the company’s wind energy portfolio, comprising around 20 projects in development, will be taken over. With this strategic move, wpd France is strengthening its position among the leading project developers in the French renewable energy market.
At the same time, the French wpd team continues to grow to 170 employees dedicated to the development of wind and solar projects throughout the country. Since its inception in 2002, wpd has established 12 agencies in France to complement its headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt (wind) and Paris (solar) and has completed 42 wind farms. The company has also been active in the solar energy sector since 2017 and currently has 1,400 MW of PV projects in development. At the end of last year, a special milestone was celebrated with the commissioning of the 600th MW in the country.
wpd is one of the world’s leading developers and operators (IRPP) of wind and solar parks. Founded in Bremen, Germany, in 1996, the company plans, finances, builds, and operates wind and solar parks across a total of 33 countries. The IRPP business comprises projects in its own portfolio with a total capacity of 3,512 MW. Thanks to its extensive expertise, wpd is a reliable partner for Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and is steadily expanding its activities in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. With a project pipeline totalling 31,585 MW of onshore wind and 7,360 MW of solar energy, the company is ideally positioned for the future and is actively shaping the energy transition.
Fugro supports Ireland’s offshore grid expansion under new EirGrid framework
Fugro, the world’s leading Geo-data specialist, has been awarded a 7-year framework agreement by EirGrid, Ireland’s state-owned electricity transmission operator. The contract supports the “Powering Up Offshore – South Coast” project, which aims to deliver the grid infrastructure needed to connect 900 MW of offshore wind energy to onshore connection points along Ireland’s south coast.
As part of the agreement, Fugro is delivering a full suite of Geo-data services, including desktop studies, geophysical, environmental, and geotechnical surveys. These investigations will result in a fully integrated ground model, giving EirGrid a detailed understanding of subsurface conditions for installing transmission infrastructure and protecting Ireland’s marine ecosystem.
Survey operations began in July 2025, starting with geophysical and environmental campaigns. To address the project’s complex geography, spanning onshore, intertidal, nearshore, and offshore zones, Fugro has deployed its specialist vessels, including the Fugro Seeker and Kommander Iona, along with jack-up barges for shallow water work.
In support of the local economy, the company is also working closely with Irish-based suppliers to deliver key services, such as metocean data collection and aerial drone surveys, that enhance and complement its data insights.
Speaking about the surveys Chief Transformation, Technology and Offshore Officer at EirGrid Liam Ryan said, “These surveys are key for assessing seabed conditions, soil properties, and environmental impacts across the landfall, intertidal, nearshore, and offshore zones related to cable corridors for the project.
“The insights gained as a result of this work will play a key role in informing plans for the installation of the transmission infrastructure for offshore wind energy and will guide how EirGrid progress the project in a way that is best for our marine ecosystem and local communities.
“We’re proud to support EirGrid in delivering critical infrastructure for Ireland’s offshore energy future,” said John ten Hoope, Fugro’s Regional Business Line Director for Marine Site Characterisation Europe and Africa. “By providing end-to-end Geo-data solutions delivered efficiently through our advanced technologies and local collaborations, we are setting the foundation for safe, sustainable, and accelerated offshore wind development along the south coast.”
Powering Up Offshore – South Coast is an integral part of the Irish Government’s climate action plan target to expand Ireland’s renewable energy capacity to 80% renewable energy, including at least 5 GW of offshore wind energy. Reliable grid connections are essential to achieving this goal, and Fugro’s data-driven approach will help ensure the safe and efficient integration of offshore wind into the national energy system.
Across both land and sea, Fugro maps, models, and monitors the built and natural environment, providing integrated Geo-data solutions that support the full lifecycle of assets. Fugro’s involvement in this project reflects its broader commitment to the global energy transition. With a proven track record supporting 80% of Europe’s operating offshore wind farms, Fugro continues to deliver insights that derisk projects and accelerate renewable energy developments.
Member Interview: Bureau Veritas
This month, we spoke with Joerg Gmeinbauer, Global Senior Vice President Energy at Bureau Veritas, about BV’s technical advisory and certification work across 2,600+ wind projects, the industry’s rapid digitalisation, and the need to scale up renewables in the Global South.
Read interview
Sampling the taste of wind energy!
You may have heard about Vattenfall’s landmark line of snacks – sourced from seaweed at their very own offshore wind farms. A bite-sized wind energy culinary experience!
Clara and Deborah from the WindEurope team hit the streets of Brussels to gauge the general public’s wind energy knowledge – and to put the famous crisps to the test!
Watch the videoUpcoming events
Partnered Events
24th Wind & Solar Integration Workshop WindEurope is once again a Workshop Partner for the upcoming 24th Wind & Solar Integration Workshop, taking place 7-10 October 2025 in Berlin.
With 40+ sessions, 200+ speakers, and 350+ attendees from industry and academia, the event – focused on renewable energy grid integration – offers outstanding opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and learning from the latest research and real-world applications.
Programme highlights include:
- Grid Forming & System Stability;
- Hydrogen & Electrolysers;
- Wind & Solar Integration;
- Hybrid Power Plants & Ancillary Services; and
- Forecasting, Markets & Standards.
For those seeking deeper insights, optional tutorials will cover grid forming and artificial intelligence in power systems.
Career opportunities at WindEurope
By joining WindEurope, you will be working at the cutting edge of wind energy policy: what we do here positively affects the future of Europe and the wider world as well.
Become a part of our team and see how you can help shape Europe’s energy transition! Check out some testimonials from our team on our website – plus a full list of WindEurope benefits. And see our current job opening below: