WindEurope Flags Electrification Gap for Industry

Why It Matters

Accelerating wind‑powered electrification can lower production costs, boost energy security, and keep European industry globally competitive.

Key Takeaways

• Wind offers cheapest electricity for European industry
• EU electrification rate stuck at 25%, lagging China
• Germany approved >20 GW onshore, auctioned 14 GW last year
• UK CfD awarded 8.4 GW offshore wind capacity
• Policy needed: tax guidance, lower levies, de‑risking tools

Pulse Analysis

Europe’s industrial sector faces a decisive crossroads as energy costs tighten and global rivals invest heavily in clean power. Wind energy, now among the cheapest electricity sources on the continent, offers a scalable solution that can power high‑temperature processes, hydrogen production, and heavy manufacturing. By tapping into both onshore and offshore wind farms, firms can lock in predictable, low‑carbon electricity, reducing exposure to volatile fossil‑fuel markets and aligning with the EU’s net‑zero targets.

Recent policy signals show momentum but also expose gaps. Germany’s streamlined permitting has unlocked more than 20 GW of onshore capacity and auctioned 14 GW in the past year, while the United Kingdom’s latest Contracts‑for‑Difference awarded 8.4 GW of offshore wind, illustrating how well‑designed auction frameworks can accelerate deployment. The North Sea Summit reinforced this trend, with governments pledging a massive offshore build‑out and industry committing to a 30 % cost reduction by 2040. Yet, without coordinated measures to bridge supply and industrial demand, the EU’s electrification rate remains flat at 25 %, trailing China’s rapid adoption.

WindEurope’s call to action centers on policy levers that can de‑risk investment and make wind power financially attractive for industry. Publishing clear electricity‑tax guidance, cutting national levies, and expanding de‑risking instruments such as CfDs will lower the cost of direct electrification projects. These steps can unlock a virtuous cycle: higher industrial demand drives further wind expansion, which in turn delivers cheaper, abundant power, bolstering Europe’s competitiveness on the global stage. The urgency is clear—swift, targeted policy is the catalyst needed to close the electrification gap.

WindEurope flags electrification gap for industry

Van der Straeten warns competitiveness depends on rapid policy support for electrified processes · 11 February 2026

European industry and EU leaders meeting in Antwerp must prioritise rapid electrification if Europe is to strengthen its competitiveness and secure affordable energy, WindEurope has said.

WindEurope chief executive officer Tinne Van der Straeten said wind can deliver large volumes of competitive electricity but warned that heavy industry needs political support to electrify production processes.

“Wind is a strong partner for Europe’s industry and an integral part of the solution to Europe’s competitiveness problem,” stated Van der Straeten.

“Together with the EU and national Governments we now need to agree on targeted measures to align electricity supply and industrial demand.”

Wind is already one of the cheapest sources of electricity in Europe, and the industry said that removing barriers to development would allow on‑shore and off‑shore projects to scale quickly while supporting energy security and predictable power prices.

WindEurope highlighted progress in Germany, where accelerated permitting has seen more than 20 GW of on‑shore wind approved and over 14 GW auctioned last year with strong demand and falling prices.

The group said offshore wind can also supply large volumes of competitive renewable power when supported by effective auction design and de‑risking tools, citing the UK’s latest Contract‑for‑Difference awards of 8.4 GW.

Recent commitments at the North Sea Summit in Hamburg, where governments pledged a major offshore wind build‑out backed by Contracts for Difference and industry vowed to cut costs by 30 % towards 2040, were also flagged as evidence of momentum.

WindEurope said the EU now needs to focus on making this electricity available to industry, warning that Europe’s electrification rate is stagnating at 25 % while China accelerates.

The group called for targeted measures to match supply and demand, reduce the risks of direct electrification investments, and ensure industry can procure wind energy at competitive prices.

It said the European Commission should publish guidance on electricity taxation, after which national governments must lower taxes and levies on power to incentivise electrified industrial processes.

Note to editors: WindEurope is the voice of the wind industry and has more than 600 members from across the supply chain.