Europe’s wind energy build-out is not progressing fast enough, warns the industry association WindEurope. According to the organization, the EU’s energy security and economic competitiveness are at risk. It is key that national Governments work out permitting processes, electrification and grids. Viktoriya Kerelska, WindEurope’s Director of Advocacy & Messaging, is addressing the issue today at the Wind Finland seminar organized by Renewables Finland.
According to WindEurope’s latest statistics, Europe built 6.8 GW of new wind power in the first half of 2025. This is less than expected and nowhere near enough to meet the EU’s 2030 energy security and climate targets. WindEurope stresses that this is also bad news for Europe’s economic competitiveness.
“Governments must walk their talk on stable policies for wind energy expansion. Wind power is competitive – it lowers electricity costs for citizens and businesses. By creating jobs and tax revenues, it also supports national and local economies. Around 400,000 people work in wind in Europe, and each new wind turbine contributes €16 million to Europe’s GDP. Yet Governments are still failing to get wind permitted and built at the speed Europe needs”, says Viktoriya Kerelska, Director of Advocacy & Messaging at WindEurope.
WindEurope points out that less wind is also a setback for Europe’s competitiveness. Industry needs affordable and clean electricity to compete with China and the United States. If Europe cannot deliver this, other sectors such as steel and chemicals will also suffer. National regulations must support wind power development for the wider European industrial growth potential to be realized.
“Now is a time for implementing good policies like the excellent EU rules for simplified permitting. It is not a time to change abruptly regulations e.g. distance rules for wind farms. Too strict rules may halt onshore wind development – this has happened some years ago in Poland. Experience shows that restarting investments after that takes time and requires rebuilding investor confidence. Europe cannot afford further delays on wind energy build-out, and neither can Finland”, Kerelska continues.
Finland – a potential wind power leader
In Finland, there are currently 60.8 GW of onshore wind and 45.8 GW of offshore wind projects in the pipeline. While not all of these will reach production, this makes Finland one of the most attractive and promising wind power markets in Europe.
“The message from the European association is also important for the Finnish government. To harness Finland’s significant wind power potential, we need a stable and predictable operating environment. Investors and industry are watching Finland closely – if we succeed in creating clear rules that enable substantial new electricity production, we can use affordable and clean power to attract new investments and jobs to Finland,” says Anni Mikkonen, CEO of Renewables Finland.
Viktoriya Kerelska, WindEurope’s Director of Advocacy & Messaging, will speak about the state of wind energy in Europe at the Wind Finland seminar organized by Renewables Finland at Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki, on 30 September 2025.
Download European wind power statistics
More information:
Anni Mikkonen, CEO, Renewables Finland, +358 40 771 6114
Viktoriya Kerelska, Director of Advocacy & Messaging, WindEurope, viktoriya.kerelska@windeurope.org, +32 492 275 540
More information
