The European Union has set ambitious goals for wind energy, aiming for wind power to account for 34 percent of total electricity consumption by 2030 and over 50 percent by 2050. However, in 2024, the share of wind energy stood at 19 percent. According to WindEurope, the current pace of wind energy development is insufficient to achieve these targets.
In 2024, the EU built 13 GW of new wind capacity, including 11.4 GW onshore and 1.4 GW offshore. This falls significantly short of the 30 GW required annually to meet the 2030 climate and energy goals. Across Europe, a total of 15 GW of new wind capacity was added.
Three main obstacles are slowing progress. The first issue is the permitting process. Most governments have not implemented the EU’s new rules aimed at streamlining and accelerating this process. Although these rules are now mandatory, many countries have yet to incorporate them into their national legislation. In fact, permitting delays worsened in 2024. The new regulations include binding deadlines and a principle of overriding public interest. Countries that have adopted these measures have demonstrated their effectiveness. For example, Germany approved nearly 15 GW of new onshore wind farms, the highest amount ever and seven times more than five years ago.
More:
- EBRD Supports the Largest Onshore Wind Project in Africa
- One year since the European Wind Charter: Lots achieved, lots more to do
- Construction Progresses on the „Kostolac” Wind Farm
Even if permitting is expedited, the second challenge remains – a lack of grid infrastructure. Currently, more than 500 GW of potential wind energy capacity is waiting for grid connection requests to be assessed. Grid development is not progressing quickly enough to accommodate new capacity.
The third issue is the stagnation of electrification rates, meaning the transition to electricity in sectors relying on fossil fuels is not advancing. In the EU, electricity accounts for only 23 percent of total energy consumption, but this needs to increase to 61 percent by 2050.
Interest in wind energy development is not lacking. European countries awarded a record 37 GW of new capacity at national auctions in 2024, including 29 GW within the EU. Corporate consumers are also increasingly recognizing the economic benefits of wind energy. However, to achieve the 2030 and 2050 targets, the three aforementioned challenges must be addressed urgently.
Energy portal
