Empowering Europe's Renewable Future: WindEurope 2025
Wind energy stands at the forefront of Europe’s strategy for economic strength and climate leadership, with a target to supply over 50% of the continent’s electricity by 2050. However, despite its central role, the sector faces significant hurdles: slow permitting processes, grid bottlenecks, and sluggish electrification rates are threatening progress.
WindEurope 2025, hosted in Copenhagen, will unite industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to tackle these challenges head-on, focusing on three key imperatives: scaling up, electrifying, and delivering the wind projects vital to Europe's energy future.
Scaling Up: Strengthening the Wind Energy Supply Chain
Wind energy is critical to Europe’s industrial strategy and economic competitiveness. Affordable, locally generated renewables are essential for reducing energy costs and fostering innovation leadership. Yet, current installation rates lag far behind the levels needed to meet climate goals. Strengthening supply chains and building resilient infrastructure are key steps in scaling wind deployment across Europe.
Accelerating Permitting and Grid Expansion: Unlocking Growth
One of the sector’s biggest hurdles remains the sluggish and overly complex permitting process, which stifles investment and delays projects. Although recent EU reforms are promising, full and swift implementation at the national level is crucial. Germany’s dramatic increase in permitting rates shows what's possible.
Grid expansion is equally critical. Europe requires €584 billion in grid investments by 2030 to accommodate growing renewable capacity. With many projects stuck in connection queues, Europe can take lessons from the UK’s strategy of prioritizing the most viable projects for faster integration.
Driving Electrification: A Cost-Effective Path to Decarbonisation
Direct electrification using wind, solar, and hydro is the most efficient way to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. Yet, electrification rates across Europe are stagnating. The EU Commission’s upcoming Electrification Action Plan will be pivotal in reinvigorating this effort, promoting investments in storage, grid infrastructure, and renewable energy demand.
WindEurope 2025: Scale Up, Electrify, Deliver
WindEurope 2025 will feature over 70 sessions and more than 350 speakers from government, industry, finance, and academia. The event will highlight advancements in AI, smart technologies, offshore wind solutions, defense integration, and community engagement. Special site visits, including preparations for the North Sea Summit and showcases from leading innovators like MODEC, promise to provide deep insights into the evolving wind landscape.
By focusing on scaling, electrifying, and delivering, WindEurope 2025 aims to empower Europe to meet its ambitious renewable energy goals and secure a sustainable, competitive future.
Learn more about WindEurope: WindEurope 2025