Europe’s Wind Power Buildout Jumps 30% in First Half
New wind power capacity in Europe reached 8.8 GW in the first half of the year, up about 30% from a year earlier, according to WindEurope data cited by Reuters. The annual increase was driven by Germany as well as strong growth in offshore wind installations, the industry body said. New wind capacity additions in Germany accounted for 39% of Europe’s total for the first half of the year, or 3.4…
Wind power capacity in Europe surged by 30% during the first half of the year, reaching a total of 8.8 GW, according to data from WindEurope reported by Reuters. This annual growth can be attributed to significant developments in Germany, which contributed 39% of the total new wind capacity, amounting to 3.4 GW. By the end of June, Europe had a total of 311 GW of installed wind power generation capacity.
Comparatively, only 13 GW was added throughout the entire year of 2024, and 19.1 GW in 2025, as per Wind Europe statistics.
Industry leaders caution that the momentum of this growth could be jeopardized by government decisions on permitting, auctions, grid infrastructure, and the broader push for electrification in the coming months. Both wind and solar sectors in Europe, particularly the European Union, have been advocating for faster and more straightforward permitting processes to accelerate capacity additions. The wind lobby, in particular, emphasizes the importance of streamlined permitting procedures to maintain this upward trajectory.
However, the costs associated with expanding wind power capacity pose a potential obstacle. The ongoing war in the Middle East has contributed to rising inflation, affecting various industries, including wind energy. In Germany, this inflationary pressure has led to challenges such as "Dunkelflaute," or periods of low or no wind.
This phenomenon, observed in 2024, resulted in a sharp increase in electricity prices in Germany and across Europe, with hourly peak prices reaching up to 900 euros per megawatt-hour in early November.
Written by urgent.news from OilPrice's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
