Global wind sector targets 2 TW installed capacity by 2030 despite uncertainties

Driven by China's acceleration, global wind capacity is expected to reach 170 GW in 2025, paving the way for a doubling of installed capacity by 2032.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The global wind market is on track to reach a historic milestone with 170 GW of new capacity expected in 2025, marking an unprecedented record for the sector. This momentum is projected to add a second terawatt (TW) by 2030, only seven years after reaching the first in 2023, compared to the twenty-three years needed for the previous threshold.

China concentrates the majority of global growth

The main driver behind this expansion remains the People’s Republic of China, where onshore wind is accelerating steadily, supported by data centre demand and electrification needs. China’s market alone weighs heavily on global forecasts, representing the majority of new installations and boosting the sector’s overall performance.

According to recent projections, global wind capacity is expected to double from 2024 levels by 2032. Excluding China, the one-terawatt milestone would be reached in 2031, with global capacity doubling by 2034. Nevertheless, analysts point to strong regulatory instability across several countries, notably the United States, which is slowing the market’s momentum.

The United States enters a phase of adjustment

The adoption of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025 is reshaping the American wind market. The planned end of tax credits in 2027 is prompting developers to accelerate projects, leading to a short-term spike in activity. However, this momentum is expected to ease, and the United States may fall behind India and Germany in ten-year capacity additions.

This environment is forcing companies to reassess project profitability based on fundamental parameters such as electricity demand growth and competition between technologies. The ongoing restructuring could permanently alter the global wind market hierarchy.

Onshore wind remains stable while offshore faces headwinds

Outside the United States and China, the wind market shows signs of resilience. Onshore projects are progressing in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and several emerging markets, supported by regular tenders and robust order books. However, the slowdown in green hydrogen-related projects is weighing on overall development prospects.

The offshore segment is facing a difficult phase. Repeated tender failures and rising costs are hindering progress. In China, maritime use conflicts are blocking certain projects already under construction. In Europe, governments are under increasing pressure to adapt contract terms and maintain the sector’s appeal.

CWP Energy and KfW IPEX-Bank have finalised a £400mn ($494mn) financing agreement for the Sanquhar II onshore wind farm, marking a strategic milestone in UK energy investments.
Nordex Group will deliver seven turbines for two wind farms commissioned by SSE in Aragón, strengthening their partnership and reinforcing the industrial supply chain in Spain.
German manufacturer Nordex has signed three orders with DenkerWulf for 25 onshore wind turbines, with a total capacity of 122.7 MW to be installed between 2027 and 2028 in northern Germany.
RWE won two projects totalling 21.6 MW in the latest onshore wind tender by the CRE, strengthening its presence in Oise and Morbihan and consolidating its investments in France.
Danish group Cadeler has signed two contracts for the transport and installation of offshore wind turbine foundations and units worth a combined €500mn, subject to a final investment decision by the client.
Shell withdraws from two floating wind projects in Scotland, reinforcing capital discipline in favour of faster-return activities. ScottishPower takes over MarramWind while CampionWind is returned to Crown Estate Scotland for reallocation.
J-POWER will take over Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ domestic onshore wind maintenance operations under a deal set to strengthen its local market position by spring 2026.
The consortium brings together Air Liquide, RTE, Nexans, ITP Interpipe and CentraleSupélec to develop a demonstrator for offshore electricity transport using superconducting cables cooled with liquid nitrogen.
Developer Q ENERGY has inaugurated a seventh wind farm in Biesles, Haute-Marne, with Velto Renewables acquiring a 50% ownership stake.
French start-up Wind fisher unveils a pioneering airborne wind system capable of producing twice as much electricity as a ground-based turbine by tapping into powerful winds above 300 metres.
The Canadian energy producer led the tenth wind tender launched by the CRE, with two projects representing 13% of the allocated capacity, strengthening its strategic position in the French market.
The European Commission has selected BW Ideol’s Fos3F project for a grant of up to €74mn, targeting the construction of a concrete floater plant for floating wind turbines at the industrial site of Fos-sur-Mer.
Canadian company Boralex reported a net loss of CAD30mn in the third quarter, impacted by lower electricity prices in France and adverse weather conditions in North America.
Energiekontor has closed financing for three new wind farms in Germany, strengthening its project portfolio and reaching a historic construction milestone in the 2025 fiscal year.
RWE has finalised installation of all 44 foundations at the Nordseecluster A offshore site in the North Sea, a key milestone before planned maintenance activities leading up to 2027 on this 660-megawatt project.
A pilot project backed by the state aims to modernise electricity transport between offshore wind farms and the mainland grid using superconducting cables cooled with liquid nitrogen.
The Danish wind turbine manufacturer doubled its net profit in the third quarter despite complex market conditions, supported by increased onshore deliveries and order growth.
Danish offshore wind giant Ørsted reported a net loss of 1.7 billion kroner in the third quarter, despite a $9.4 billion recapitalisation aimed at strengthening its balance sheet and stabilising operations.
Norway's energy regulator has rejected an application to build a wind farm in the northern Finnmark region due to potential environmental impacts and threats to Indigenous Sami culture.
Danish Ørsted has signed an agreement with Apollo to sell a 50% stake in its Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm in the UK, in a strategic transaction valued at approximately DKK 39 billion ($5.43bn).

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.