BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Europe continues to fall significantly short of its wind energy targets. According to industry association estimates, wind turbines with a total capacity of 17 to 18 gigawatts (GW) were installed on land and at sea across the continent last year. "This is well below what Europe needs," said the WindEurope association.
As early as September, the industry association had lowered its forecast for 2025 from 22.5 GW to 19 GW. The issues identified included a slow pace of electrification, bottlenecks in the electricity grid, and ongoing permitting problems.
By 2030, renewable energies are supposed to account for 42.5 percent of total energy consumption in the EU. To achieve this goal, wind power, among other sources, must be significantly expanded.
CEO: Geopolitical Situation Could Provide a Boost
Nevertheless, WindEurope CEO Tinne van der Straeten remains optimistic. "It's true that we are lagging behind and have not yet achieved the originally set targets," says the former Belgian energy minister. However, with national initiatives and industry players who are market leaders, the sector as a whole is in good shape. "Of course, no one can guarantee that the target will be reached, but we have to work towards it," van der Straeten said. "If you don't have a clear goal, you'll never get there."
Geopolitical uncertainties could help drive wind energy forward, van der Straeten added. "In an unstable geopolitical world, we need to secure our base." This means always having access to reliable and affordable energy. "Currently, Europe is still very energy-poor and heavily dependent on imports of fossil fuels such as gas, LNG, and oil. To replace these with clean sources and electricity, we can use wind energy both onshore and offshore."
Germany Leading the Way
Germany, meanwhile, is considered a model student in the expansion of wind power. Nowhere else have so many new wind turbines been installed recently as in Germany. Van der Straeten sees a need for improvement regarding so-called Contracts for Difference—a support mechanism intended to help secure investments and provide planning certainty. "Just as permitting has been accelerated, this support instrument should now also be implemented quickly," said the Belgian./rdz/DP/zb
