EU adds 15 GW of fresh wind in 2022, permitting slows down growth

The European Union (EU) installed 15 GW of new wind power generation capacity in 2022, up 33% in annual terms, but still falls significantly short of what is needed to meet the REPowerEU goals, with slow permitting being the major hurdle.

The industry body WindEurope said on Wednesday that the year-on-year increase is “encouraging” in view of the high inflation and supply chain challenges through the past year. However, it pointed out that overcoming permitting bottlenecks and simplifying approval procedures have a pivotal role in delivering on the bloc’s climate and energy security targets. On a positive note, some governments have already taken steps in that direction.

According to WindEurope’s data, around 80 GW of wind projects are currently stuck in permitting procedures across Europe.

Meanwhile, investments in new projects were hampered by inflation and government interventions in electricity markets, which has turned investors away, alarmed WindEurope’s CEO Giles Dickson. He highlighted that demand for wind energy had reached a record-high level and the number power purchase agreement (PPA) would be higher if more investments were made.

“Last year’s 33% increase in new installations shows that the European wind industry is stepping up to the challenge. But the current cost pressures leave our companies with little room for urgently needed new investments,” Dickson said.

Statistics show that in the first 11 months of 2022, the total investments in new wind farms covered only 12 GW of capacity.

“If the EU is serious about its energy and climate targets, it should facilitate these investments in our supply chain: factories, skilled workers, grids, raw materials and vessels,” Dickson also said.

The countries that installed the most wind farms in 2022 are Germany, Sweden, Finland, Spain and France. Around 90% of the overall capacity that came online was from onshore wind turbines.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!