State of the wind energy sector in Europe in the first half of 2024

In the first half of 2024, European countries built 6.4 GW of new wind farms: 5.3 GW of onshore and 1.1 GW of offshore wind farms. This is stated in the latest report by WindEurope “The latest autumn statistics on wind energy in Europe“, which is quoted by the Ukrainian Wind Energy Association.

In 27 countries of the European Union, 5.7 GW of new wind generation was commissioned, of which 4.7 GW were onshore wind farms and 1 GW were offshore wind farms. Germany retains the leading position, having commissioned 1.7 GW of new wind farms. It is followed by France (1.2 GW) and Spain (876 MW).

Thus, today, the total installed capacity of wind energy in Europe has reached 278 GW, and in the EU-27, where more than 80% of it is onshore wind power, – 225 GW.

Although orders for wind turbines have increased significantly compared to the previous year, and auction volumes also remain high, WindEurope notes that the problems of grid congestion and obtaining connection permits remain relevant. This not only delays project implementation but also complicates the process of attracting investment.

According to the association, orders for wind turbines increased by 11% across Europe during the analyzed period, reaching 9.5 GW, and by 33% in the EU. Also, in the first half of 2024, 19.7 GW of new wind power capacity was auctioned in the EU: 6.5 GW of onshore capacity and 13.2 GW of offshore capacity.

At the same time, the level of final investment decisions on the construction of new wind farms in Europe fell by 30% compared to the same period in 2023, as the European energy market has not yet fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the first half of 2024, such decisions were made in Europe for a total of EUR 15.4 billion.

By the end of this year, 15 GW of new wind farms are expected to be built, and in the period 2024-2030 – an average of another 22 GW per year. However, to meet its climate and energy goals by 2030, the EU now needs to build an average of 33 GW per year.

Based on current data, WindEurope expects that 350 GW of wind power capacity will definitely be built in Europe by 2030 (296 GW onshore and 54 GW offshore), but the EU’s goal is still 425 GW, which is almost 22% more.

In addition to the interconnection problem, WindEurope also notes the need for increased investment in port infrastructure and improved auction design.

The conclusions of the latest WindEurope report emphasize the progress that Europe has made in wind energy development, but also highlight challenges that are also relevant for Ukraine. Creating favorable conditions for investment and modernizing grids can help our country join the new wave of green energy by actively integrating into the European energy market.