With the global energy transition in full swing, the world is contemplating a future without the need to rely on the traditional coal and gas sector in favor of the overlooked potential that the renewable energy sector has in abundance. WindEurope, which is an industry watchdog that promotes the adoption of the wind power sector in Europe and further afield, recently announced that the continent saw 11.3 GW of new turbine orders during the first half of the year, which points to the continent shifting towards wind power as a major energy resource.
Europe is diversifying its energy sector to meet its decarbonization goals
During the period in 2016 when the world came together to contemplate the future of the energy sector and the best ways to decarbonize, the Paris Agreement laid out a detailed emission target for the nations of the globe to reach by the end of the decade.
The result was that the litany of climate-conscious nations in attendance committed to their individual decarbonization targets. Since then, Europe has made significant progress in working towards its self-imposed emission target that spans several sectors like energy, mobility, industrial operations, and data.
WindEurope plays a crucial role in detailing the progress made on the continent in adopting the overlooked energy capacity that wind power has in abundance. And its latest report outlines the substantial increase in wind energy production across the continent.
A report from energy industry watchdog WindEurope notes some promising signs for Europe
The WindEurope report states that Europe has seen a significant increase in wind power projects. The report notes that Europe’s cumulative wind power capacity is sitting at around 291 GW, with onshore capacity accounting for 254 GW and offshore credited with 37 GW. Additionally, the report states that Europe’s combined capacity, specifically for the EU-27, is hovering around 236 GW.
Europe saw a substantial increase in wind turbine orders in the first half of 2025
Notably, WindEurope’s report stated that the European Union is forecasting to build 22 GW of new wind farms annually from 2025 to 2030. This will no doubt increase the continent’s ability to accelerate the global energy transition away from fossil fuels towards the renewable energy sector.
WindEurope has more importantly noted that Europe booked 11.3 GW of new turbine orders during the first half of 2025, which works out to approximately 19% higher than last year. Like it or not, wind power has become the cornerstone of the international renewable energy sector.
The inevitable resurrection of the European wind sector has not fallen on deaf ears, as several nations have seen huge wind projects being commissioned this year. Even former enemies like China are jumping on board the wind power train and have announced plans to construct a 24.5 MW floating turbine in Europe.
“Wind delivers the energy society wants. European citizens and businesses want reliable, affordable, and clean energy. It is a completely local source of energy which strengthens Europe’s energy security, resilience, and independence. Wind is cheap. And the more we have of it, the less energy we need to import.” – WindEurope
While Europe sees new highs in wind turbine orders, some nations are stagnating
The news that Europe ordered 11.3 GW of new turbines during the first half of 2025 points to the continent finally embracing the untapped potential that wind power has in abundance, not to mention the ability it serves for decarbonizing the energy sector. However, some nations have not rolled out wind power adoption quickly enough, leading to concerns over their energy future. The world is on the edge of a global energy crisis as new sanctions on Russian energy resources force the energy sector to diversify or face peril.
