Wind Farm Construction in European Union 2026: Industry Statistics & Trends

The wind farm construction industry in the European Union comprises the engineering, civil works, grid connection, and installation activities required to deploy onshore and offshore wind energy infrastructure. In 2025, the EU-27 successfully installed 15.1 gigawatts of new wind capacity (14.2 gigawatts onshore and 0.9 gigawatts offshore), expanding its total operational base to 246 gigawatts, as reported by WindEurope. Sustained by €45 billion in newly raised capital in 2025 alone, the sector is experiencing a rapid construction ramp-up driven by the European Union's updated 2030 decarbonization goals.

Industry snapshot

Key public data points

Historical & forecast

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What does the Wind Farm Construction in European Union industry cover?

The industry encompasses the physical construction, site preparation, civil engineering, and grid-integration activities necessary to establish utility-scale wind power plants. It excludes the factory manufacturing of raw turbines and electrical components, focusing instead on the onsite logistics, foundation laying, structural erection, and high-voltage cabling required to make wind farms operational.

• •Includes specialized civil engineering works such as constructing turbine foundations, access roads, and substation structures.
• •Covers marine and offshore engineering, including seabed preparation, pile driving, and the deployment of specialized jack-up vessels.
• •Aligns officially under civil engineering classifications for power plant and utility infrastructure construction across EU statistical reports.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The construction ecosystem is divided between multinational civil engineering conglomerates, specialized marine offshore contractors, and utility developers executing project management. Turbine manufacturers also play a dual role, often acting as engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partners to deliver turnkey installations.

• •Onshore construction remains highly localized, relying on regional civil contractors for excavation, concrete works, and local logistics.
• •Offshore wind construction is highly consolidated due to the extreme capital requirements and the technical complexity of deep-water marine operations.
• •Major EU utilities frequently internalize project management, direct-contracting civil works separately from turbine supply agreements.

What drives demand in the industry?

The primary demand drivers are national renewable energy targets designed to fulfill the EU's legally binding climate objectives. Rapidly increasing electrification across European transport and industrial sectors, paired with the need for national energy sovereignty, continues to accelerate public and private capital deployment.

• •Driven directly by the EU's revised Renewable Energy Directive, which mandates a target of at least 42.5% renewable energy in overall consumption by 2030.
• •Supported by €45 billion in newly raised capital across Europe in 2025, securing construction pipelines for subsequent years.
• •Accelerated by national tenders, regulatory streamlining, and grid-expansion initiatives outlined in the European Commission's Wind Power Package.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The competitive environment features massive European infrastructure groups, specialized marine construction firms, and leading wind technology manufacturers acting as prime contractors. These entities navigate complex logistics and supply chains to deliver utility-scale renewable energy assets.

• •Vinci SA and Bouygues SA represent tier-one European civil engineering groups that actively execute onshore grid, foundation, and substation projects.
• •Acciona SA is a major global player integrating both the civil construction and direct long-term operation of wind assets.
• •Vestas Wind Systems A/S and Siemens Energy AG (via Siemens Gamesa) lead the technical execution, turbine erection, and turnkey installation phases of EU projects.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

In 2025, EU-27 wind installations reached 15.1 gigawatts, reflecting a steady acceleration in deployment compared to previous years. The sector is transitioning toward larger turbine capacities and accelerated permit-approval processes designed to eliminate historical project backlogs.

• •Germany led EU wind farm construction in 2025, adding 5.7 gigawatts of capacity, predominantly driven by onshore projects.
• •Onshore wind represented 94% of all newly constructed EU-27 wind capacity in 2025, totaling 14.2 gigawatts.
• •Industry forecasts project that the EU-27 will install an average of 22 gigawatts of new wind capacity annually from 2026 through 2030.

How is the industry regulated?

European wind farm construction is heavily governed by strict environmental impact assessments, maritime spatial planning, and grid-connection compliance. Recent regulatory actions aim to compress bureaucratic timelines and shield domestic supply chains from external competition.

• •Regulated by the EU Net-Zero Industry Act, which fast-tracks construction permitting and strengthens localized manufacturing standards.
• •Projects must comply with the Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) Regulation, which guides cross-border grid infrastructure connections.
• •Environmental compliance mandates strict adherence to the EU Habitats Directive and Maritime Spatial Planning directives for offshore installations.

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• WindEurope Wind energy in Europe: 2025 Statistics and the outlook for 2026-2030 (Published 2026) ·
• European Parliament Briefing: Wind energy in the EU (Published 2024) ·
• Eurostat NACE Rev. 2 Statistical Classification of Economic Activities