Wind power in the European Union

As of December 2017, installed capacity of wind power in the European Union totaled 169.3 gigawatts (GW). In 2017, a total of 15,680 MW of wind power was installed, representing 55% of all new power capacity, and the wind power generated 336 TWh of electricity, enough to supply 11.6% of the EU's electricity consumption.[2]

Share of wind power in total electricity demand in Europe in 2017
  > 40 %
  20-30 %
  10-20 %
  < 10 %
The Fântânele-Cogealac Wind Farm is the largest onshore wind farm in Europe. Located in southeastern Romania, it consists of 240 turbines, with a capacity of 600 MW.[1]

In the future, wind power is likely to continue to grow in the European Union. According to a European Environment Agency report, wind energy can play a major role in achieving the European renewable energy targets.[3]

The European Wind Energy Association (now WindEurope) has estimated that 230 gigawatts (GW) of wind capacity will be installed in Europe by 2020, consisting of 190 GW onshore and 40 GW offshore. This would produce 14-17% of the EU's electricity, avoiding 333 million tonnes of CO2 per year and saving Europe €28 billion a year in fuel costs.[4][5]

Research from a wide variety of sources in various European countries shows that support for wind power is consistently about 80 per cent among the general public.[6]

By country

Denmark
Main article: Wind power in Denmark
Offshore wind turbines near Copenhagen

In 2014 wind power in Denmark provided some 39 percent of Danish domestic electricity[7][8] and Denmark is a leading wind power nation in the world. The Danes were pioneers in developing commercial wind power during the 1970s and today almost half of the wind turbines around the world are produced by Danish manufacturers such as Vestas and Siemens Wind Power.[9]

The Danish wind turbine industry is the world's largest and 90% of the wind turbines manufactured in Denmark are sold to international markets. In 2003, the Danish manufacturers had a total world market share of approximately 38%, generating a combined turnover of almost 3 billion Euro and maintaining over 20,000 people employed in the industry, from wind turbine factories to maintenance and research.[9]

The development of wind power in Denmark has been characterised by a close collaboration between publicly financed research and industry in key areas such as research and development, certification, testing, and the preparation of standards.[8]

Estonia
Main article: Wind power in Estonia
Wind farm of Hanila, Lääne County

As of 2013, the installed capacity of wind power in Estonia was 269.4 MW,[10] while roughly 1466.5 MW[11] worth of projects are currently being developed and three major offshore projects with total capacity of 1490 MW are being planned. Estonia, as a country, which is widely open to the sea and has a flat territory, possesses a very high potential for the development of wind energy.[12]

According to a survey carried out by the Estonian Ministry of the Environment, 95% of the respondents considered wind power as the most environmentally friendly way to produce energy.[13]

Germany
Main article: Wind power in Germany
Wind farm in Neuenkirchen

Wind power plays an important role in Germany's renewable energy mix. In October 2014, the installed domestic capacity amounted to 35,678 megawatts, of which offshore contributed 616 MW.[14]

In 2014, wind generated more than 51 terawatt-hours of electricity and contributed about 9.7% to the nations total net-generated electricity. This is 1.3% more than the year before. December 2014 was the best month, generating 8.9 TWh and on par with record-breaking month of December 2011. Along with the generated electricity of 18.5 TWh (3.5%) from hydro, 32.8 TWh (6.2%) from solar, and 54 TWh (10.0%) from biomass, all four renewable energy sources generated 154 TWh or about 30% of the nation's total net-generation. Electricity production from combined wind and solar has now achieved almost the level of nuclear power (84.2 TWh vs. 91.8 TWh).[15]

More than 21,607 wind turbines are located in the German federal area and the country has plans to build more wind turbines.[16][17] As of 2011, Germany's federal government is working on a new plan for increasing renewable energy commercialization,[18] with a particular focus on offshore wind farms.[19]

Greece
Main article: Wind power in Greece

Wind power in Greece was due to expand by 352% by 2010 to meet the European target of 20% coverage of energy needs from renewable sources. Previously, there were 1,028 wind turbines installed throughout Greece and the number was set to reach 2,587 wind turbines before the end of 2010.[20]

According to the Ministry of Environment and Public Works, the system would have a nameplate capacity of 3,372MW of power from wind alone compared to 746MW at the end of 2006.[21] Greece chose to invest primarily to wind power by 77%, while the rest of renewable sources altogether comprise the remaining 23% of production with hydroelectric power being second with 11%.[22][23]

Ireland
Main article: Wind power in the Republic of Ireland

Ireland is the best location in Europe for wind power as it is situated on the Western edge of Europe and is exposed to high winds from the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea. Wind power capacity factors tend to be higher in Ireland than anywhere else. By the end of 2014 the installed capacity of wind power in Ireland was 2,111 megawatts,[24] generating 19% of Ireland's electrical power.

Most wind farms in Ireland are located in coastal regions and especially in the West of Ireland. However, the Irish Sea is getting some attention and the first offshore wind farm in Ireland is located a few kilometers north of Arklow and 10 km out to sea and is known as the Arklow Bank Wind Park. This is set to expand in the future. Other proposals are an offshore wind farm on the Kish Bank which is about 15 kilometers offshore from Dublin, the capital city. With another planned wind farm at Clogherhead (north of Drogheda, south of Dundalk), to be called the Oriel Wind Farm. The Codling windfarm, planned for the south Irish Sea, will have a capacity of 1100 MW with 330 turbines, giving a huge boost to wind generated power in Ireland.

Lithuania

The Lithuanian government is planning on mimicking Baltic neighbor Denmark, which generates 20 percent of its energy with wind turbines. Lithuanian government have plans to build 200 megawatts of renewable energy by 2010 in wind turbines.[25]

Romania
Main article: Wind power in Romania

As of 2016, wind power in Romania has an installed capacity of about 3,028 MW,[26] up from the 14 MW installed capacity in 2009.[27] Romania has a high wind power potential of around 14,000 MW (second highest in the EU after Scotland) and a power generating capacity of 23 TWh. The main regions of great potential of wind are Northern Dobruja and Moldavia.

Aerial view of the Sierra de Gredos in Spain

Spain
Main article: Wind power in Spain

In 2011, Spain was Europe's leading producer of wind energy and ranked second only behind Germany in terms of installed capacity. In 2012, domestic capacity amounted to 22,785 MW.[28][29] Wind power alone covered 16.6% of the total electricity demand in Spain in 2010 (according to Red Eléctrica de España, the Spanish system operator) and continues as the third technology in the system, after nuclear power and combined cycles. Wind energy's installed capacity could meet the electricity needs of two thirds of Spanish households. In 2010, the electricity sector reduced its CO2 emissions by 26% thanks to wind energy.[30][31] "Spain holds these positions as a result of the establishment of a stable regulatory framework, better understanding of the resource, and improved technology that have afforded considerable cost reduction in terms of initial investment, maintenance, and exploitation".[30]

United Kingdom
Main articles: Wind power in the United Kingdom and Wind power in Scotland
A turbine blade convoy passing through Edenfield, UK

At the beginning of 2013, the installed capacity of wind power in the United Kingdom was 8,445 megawatts (MW), with 362 operational wind farms and 4,158 wind turbines in the United Kingdom.[32] The United Kingdom is ranked as the world's eighth largest producer of wind power.

1.8 GW of new wind power capacity was brought online during 2012, a 30% increase of the total UK installed capacity. 2012 was a significant year for the offshore wind industry with 4 large wind farms becoming operational with over 1.1 GW of generating capability coming on stream.[33]

Through the Renewables Obligation, British electricity suppliers are now required by law to provide a proportion of their sales from renewable sources such as wind power or pay a penalty fee. The supplier then receives a Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) for each MW·h of electricity they have purchased.[34] Within the United Kingdom, wind power is the second largest source of renewable energy after biomass.[35]

Wind power is expected to continue growing in the United Kingdom for the foreseeable future – RenewableUK estimated in 2010 that more than 2,000 MW of capacity would be deployed per year for the next five years.[36] By 2020, the United Kingdom is expected to have more than 28,000 MW of wind capacity.[37] By 2050, UK government plans to cut carbon emissions to zero by using wind power.[38]

Europe's Wind Energy Event
Further information: EWEA

In the Europe's Premier Wind Energy Event February 2013 wind was evaluated by Robert Clover from MAKE Consulting as the cheapest electricity technology after 2020 meeting 50% of electricity demand in Europe by 2050.[39] According to Fatih Birol, Chief Economist at the International Energy Agency, without phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, the EU will not reach its climate targets. The fossil fuel subsidies were half a trillion dollars in 2011. The biggest challenges of wind energy is the lack of predictability of government policies, and not the lack of predictability of wind power, according to Birol. Retroactive policy changes have also undermined investment in renewable energy projects.[40] The European wind industry needs skilled workforce.[41] The EU wind energy capacity in the end of 2012 was 105.6 GW. Renewable energy represented 69% of new power capacity in 2012, while fuel oil, coal and nuclear capacity saw negative growth due to decommissioning.[42]

Public opinion

Recent public opinion surveys about wind power at both the EU and the country level shows that wind energy, being a clean and renewable energy source, is traditionally linked to very strong and stable levels of public support. About 80 per cent of EU citizens support wind power.[6]

Opinion on increase in number of wind farms, 2010 Harris Poll[5]
Great
Britain		FranceItalySpainGermany
%%%%%
Strongly oppose66224
Oppose more than favour121611914
Favour more than oppose4444383742
Strongly favour3833495340

Statistics

Installed wind power capacity
EU wind power Capacity (MW)[32][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50] [51] [52]
Rank Country 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
-EU-28192,231178,826169,319153,641142,042128,751117,289105,69693,95784,07474,76764,71256,51748,06940,51134,38328,59923,15917,31512,8879,6786,453
1Germany61,35759,31156,13250,01944,94239,16533,73031,33229,06027,21425,77723,89722,24720,62218,41516,62914,60911,9948,7546,1134,4422,875
2Spain25,80823,49423,17023,02622,98722,98622,95922,79621,67420,67619,14916,68915,13111,62310,0288,2646,2034,8253,3372,2351,812834
3UK23,51520,97018,87215,03014,29112,44010,5318,4456,5405,2044,0512,9742,4061,9621,332904667552474406362333
4France16,64615,30913,75911,67010,3249,2858,2547,1966,8005,6604,4923,4042,4541,56775739025714893662519
5Italy10,5129,9589,4799,2558,9738,6638,5518,1446.7475,7974,8503,7362,7262,1231,7181,266905788682427277180
6Sweden8,9857,4076,6916,5196,0295,4254,4703,7452,9072,1631,5601,048788571509442399345293231220174
7Denmark6,1285,7585,4765,2425,0754,8454,7724,1623,8713,7523,4653,1633,1253,1363,1283,1183,1162,8892,4892,4171,7711,443
8Poland5,9175,8646,3975,7825,1003,8343,3902,4971,6161,107725544276153836363270000
9Portugal5,4375,3805,3165,2695,0344,9144,7244,5254,0833,8983,5352,8622,1501,7161,0225222961951311006160
10Netherlands4,6004,4714,3414,1803,3912,8052,6932,3912,3282,2452,2292,2251,7471,5581,2191,079910693486446433361
11Ireland4,1553,5643,1272,7652,4402,2722,0371,7381,6311,4281,2601,0277957464963391901371241187473
12Belgium3,8793,3602,8432,4002,1691,9591,6511,3751,078911563415287194167966835321366
13Greece3,5762,8442,6512,3742,1361,9801,8651,7491,6291,2081,08798587174657347338329727218911239
14Austria3,1593,0452,8282,6322,4042,0951,6841,3781,0841,01199599598296581960641514094773430
15Romania3,0293,0293,0293,0282,9762,9542,5991,90598246214118321100000
16Finland2,2842,0412,1131,5331,005627448288197197146143110868282524339393917
17Bulgaria69169169169169169168167461237517712057361010000000
18Croatia652583583466462347339[53]180131892800000000000
19Lithuania54843942142142127927922517916391545451486600000
20Czech Republic337317308281281281269260217215192150116542817930000
21Hungary3293293293293293293293293292952011276561173330000
22Estonia320310310310302302280269184149142785932326220000
23Cyprus15815815815815814714714713482000000000000
24Luxembourg13612012010058585858444435353535353522171510109
25Latvia6666667069626260313028272727272727240000
26Slovenia3333520000000000000000
27Slovakia3333333333555530000000
28Malta0000000000000000000000
-EU-28 Offshore22,06918,44115,78012,40610,9948,0456,5624,9933,8102,9442,0611,4711,088
-Turkey8,0567,3696,8576,1014,7183,7632,9562,3121,6911,329801458
-Norway2,4441,6751,162838822819768703520441431429333314267160101
-Ukraine1,1705335935265144983712781518794908986770000000
-Russia1911391041515151515159900000000000
-Switzerland7575757560606050464218141212120000000
-North Macedonia3737373737370000000000000000
-Faroe Islands1818181818187700000000000000
-Belarus3333333000000000000000
-Iceland3333331.8000000000000000
-Europe (MW)204,814189,229178,096161,261148,240133,968121,474109,23896,60786,07576,15265,74157,13648,56340,898

Per capita capacity

Wind power today, in an average wind year, generates the equivalent of over 20% of Denmark's electricity use and 25–30% of that in three German Länder, and on windy days with light loads, over 100% of the load in certain regions, particularly in West Denmark, North Germany, and northern Spain.[54]

Wind power share of electricity demand and per capita capacity
2007[55] 2008[56] 2009[57] 2010[58] 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Country % electricity W/person W/person W/person W/person W/person W/person W/person W/person W/person W/person W/person
 Denmark21.3579581627.5686.6706.2745.8837.3850.1894.6911.8947.2
 Germany7.0270291315.3332.7355.7382.8415.9483.0553.7608.7679.8
 Sweden1.388111166.9231.6308.7394.8454.0551.0618.1647.7661.6
 Ireland8.4193228283.1319.6364.0375.0439.5490.1537.4580.7652.5
 Portugal9.3203270332.5366.4403.4429.2471.2471.3489.6511.1515.6
 Spain11.8367370415.5449.6469.2490.8494.3495.0495.8495.6497.8
 Finland0.3212727.336.836.653.481.7114.3182.8278.6383.1
Average3.8116131149.2168.3187.2209.7230.8253.3278.6300.2330.8
 Austria3.3120119118.8120.7128.2163.2195.3243.0281.0299.3320.5
 United Kingdom1.8405465.383.9105.0132.4162.7192.2210.0228.9287.5
 Netherlands3.4107136134.0135.4139.1145.3158.7165.3203.0245.3252.6
 Belgium0.7283652.081.998.4124.5147.5175.1198.0212.3249.4
 Greece3.7788896.1106.9143.6154.9170.2180.1199.0212.3246.4
 Estonia1.84558111.3111.0137.2200.8213.4230.2230.7229.2235.1
 France1.2405369.987.5104.0114.6123.9139.3156.1174.2204.8
 Luxembourg1.1719086.286.284.6106.7106.7106.7106.7173.5203.2
 Cyprus0000102.1166.6170.5170.5170.5186.5185.7184.8
 Lithuania1.1151927.346.355.274.896.696.6145.1180.4175.6
 Poland0.471218.531.042.364.988.199.6134.2149.7166.5
 Italy1.7476380.396.1111.1133.9140.7142.5147.3152.7156.7
 Romania0.001119.545.990.9133.2151.4157.5154.2154.3
 Bulgaria0.5102123.449.681.689.792.593.893.893.897.3
 Latvia0.9121212.513.813.933.333.533.533.533.534.2
 Hungary0.461220.129.332.933.033.033.033.033.033.6
 Czech Republic0.4111418.420.520.624.625.626.826.826.829.1

Leading EU countries by wind power production
Leading EU countries by wind power production (2019)[59]
Country Production (GWh)
Germany126,000
United Kingdom63,468
Spain54,212
France (w/o overseas)34,100
Italy20,200
Sweden19,902
Denmark16,149
Poland15,000
Portugal13,732
Netherlands11,458
Ireland9,354
Belgium8,119
Greece7,279
Austria7,269
Romania6,745
Finland5,987

See also

References
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