Europe’s Wind Industry Sets Out 10 Steps to Strengthen Energy Independence

Europe’s wind industry has called on EU leaders to treat electrification as a strategic priority, arguing that domestically produced clean electricity is central to the continent’s energy security, industrial competitiveness and net-zero transition.

The appeal was made at WindEurope 2026 in Madrid, where the sector launched the Madrid Call to Action, a 10-point policy package designed to shift Europe from energy crisis management to what the industry describes as “energy confidence”. The plan places wind power at the centre of Europe’s effort to reduce exposure to imported fossil fuels and strengthen the resilience of its electricity system.

The timing reflects continuing geopolitical pressure on energy markets. WindEurope argues that Europe has already learned from recent energy shocks that fossil fuel dependence creates economic and security vulnerabilities, while home-grown electricity can reduce exposure to international price volatility. The industry says Europe now needs to connect its renewable power ambitions more directly with industrial policy, infrastructure planning and consumer demand.

Wind already supplies around 20% of Europe’s electricity, according to WindEurope, and the sector’s value chain supports about 440,000 jobs across the continent. In 2025, the industry raised €45 billion for new wind projects, financing 20.9 GW of future capacity. Europe installed 19.1 GW of new wind power capacity in 2025, taking total installed capacity to 304 GW, including 265 GW onshore and 39 GW offshore.

Despite this progress, the industry warns that the wider energy transition remains incomplete. Electricity still accounts for less than a quarter of Europe’s total energy use, meaning transport, heating and many industrial processes continue to depend heavily on oil and gas. For the wind sector, the central challenge is therefore not only to build more renewable generation, but also to make sure clean electricity reaches factories, homes and transport systems at competitive prices.

The 10-Point Plan: Supply, Grids and Demand

The Madrid Call to Action is organized around three priorities: boosting electricity supply, connecting that supply to demand, and expanding demand for clean electricity.

On supply, the industry is urging policymakers to fast-track permitting by treating wind projects as an overriding public interest and applying tacit approval for a limited period. It also calls for governments to make better use of wind auctions by awarding at least 80% of bids, rather than restricting volumes through what the industry describes as artificial scarcity. A third supply-side measure focuses on repowering ageing wind farms, which can significantly increase output while using fewer, more efficient turbines.

Repowering is especially relevant for countries with mature onshore wind fleets, including Denmark, Germany, Spain and parts of the Netherlands. Older turbines often occupy some of the best wind sites but generate far less power than modern machines. Replacing them can increase output without requiring the same level of new land development, although permitting, local acceptance, and grid access remain important constraints.

The second part of the plan focuses on grid infrastructure. The industry wants grid connections prioritised for mature and strategic projects, while inactive “zombie projects” are removed from connection queues. It also calls for larger framework contracts to scale up grid equipment manufacturing and for EU grid funding to be multiplied fivefold to attract private finance.

This aligns with wider EU policy concerns. The European Commission has identified grid development as a core requirement for integrating more renewables, electrifying demand and improving cross-border energy security. Its EU Wind Power Package also highlights faster permitting, improved auction design, access to finance, skills and industrial competitiveness as key pillars for the sector.

The third pillar addresses demand. WindEurope is calling for zero VAT on heat pumps and electric vehicles, greater priority for electrification in low and medium-temperature industrial processes, permanent reductions in electricity taxation and simplified state aid rules for industries switching to renewables through power purchase agreements.

These measures are designed to tackle a persistent problem in Europe’s energy transition: clean electricity supply is growing, but many end-use sectors are not electrifying quickly enough. The European Environment Agency reported that renewables accounted for 25.2% of EU final energy consumption in 2024, while the EU’s binding 2030 target is at least 42.5%. The agency said deployment rates must roughly double compared with the past decade to meet that target.

Practical Implications for Industry and Policymakers

For policymakers, the Madrid Call to Action is a reminder that wind deployment depends on more than climate targets. Permitting capacity, auction design, grid planning, public acceptance, supply chain strength and electricity pricing all affect whether projects move from pipeline to operation.

For industrial companies, the proposals point to a future in which access to affordable renewable electricity becomes a competitiveness issue. Companies with credible power purchase agreements, flexible demand, electrified heat systems or on-site renewable strategies may be better positioned as fossil fuel exposure becomes a greater risk. The call for simplified state aid rules could also matter for manufacturers seeking to electrify process heat or secure long-term clean power contracts.

For grid operators and equipment suppliers, the message is clear: grid investment is now a bottleneck in the energy transition. WindEurope expects Europe to install 151 GW of new wind capacity between 2026 and 2030, including 112 GW in the EU-27. That would bring Europe’s total wind capacity to 439 GW by 2030, but only if infrastructure, permitting, and market design keep pace.

The Madrid Call to Action builds on the Copenhagen Call to Action launched in 2025, which focused on faster permitting, better auction design and accelerated electrification. The new Madrid package expands that agenda into a broader toolbox for energy independence, linking wind deployment with grids, consumer incentives, industrial electrification and clean power affordability.

The proposals are not a binding policy, and their implementation would depend on EU institutions and national governments. However, they reflect a growing consensus across Europe’s energy debate: renewable generation alone will not deliver energy independence unless it is matched by faster electrification, stronger grids and market rules that make clean electricity the most attractive option for households and industry.

Source: stateofgreen.com