Record year: Wind turbine installations jump 30% across Europe

According to Belga News Agency, a semi-annual report by WindEurope states that the region successfully deployed 8.8 gigawatts of capacity in the first half of the year. However, WindEurope CEO Tinne Van der Straeten cautions that bureaucratic bottlenecks and slow permitting processes continue to hinder progress across multiple nations.

The wind turbines installed from January to June - which is 30 per cent more than in the first half of 2024 - "can generate enough energy to supply approximately seven million European households with electricity and replace fossil fuel imports equivalent to 25 LNG tankers per year," states the professional organisation.

Germany has been the driving force behind this progress in the first six months of the year. It accounted for 3.4 gigawatts, or 40 per cent of the installed capacity. Over 500 new wind turbines were commissioned in Germany (423 on land and 84 offshore). In Belgium, an additional 60 megawatts of wind capacity were created.

WindEurope forecasts a further 24 gigawatts of capacity to be added across Europe over the year - summer is traditionally the period when most wind turbines are installed. This would be a record. The organisation expects acceleration in the coming years, reaching 30 gigawatts annually by the 2030s.

"However, structural issues persist," warns WindEurope. Permitting remains the main obstacle. While Germany has significantly increased its installed capacity, in countries such as Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Ireland, the volumes authorised are decreasing, WindEurope further notes.

"2026 could well be a record year for wind energy, but we must not take this momentum for granted," emphasised Tinne Van der Straeten.

Earlier, it was reported that Egypt led Middle East and North Africa in wind energy.