Europe is harnessing the power of the wind like never before. Germany, Spain and the UK are leading a quiet but powerful wind revolution that could rewrite the rules of sustainable energy.
The wind power giants: who's at the helm?
Europe is a continent that has always had an eye for renewable energy, and wind energy is no exception. There Germany, with its favorable landscape and long-term investments, has been the undisputed leader in this sector. But she is not the only protagonist. Countries like Spain and the UK, full of windy coasts, have made their way among the top producers in Europe. And if you think the story ends here, you are very wrong.
Wind energy, percentages that speak
When it comes to wind energy, numbers often speak louder than words. Tariffe-energia.it has created a nice post on the topic. For example, if we consider the share of wind energy produced by each country compared to other energy sources, the ranking changes drastically and gives us other valuable information. There Denmark, with an impressive percentage of 41%, is the real emerging star. They follow Ireland with 28% and the Portugal with 24%. There Germany, despite being a power in absolute terms, stops at 21%, while the Spain wind energy closes the top five with 19%.
What produced these results? It's not just a question of natural resources. Technological innovation and continuous investment in research and development are fundamental. Tax incentives, guaranteed tariffs for wind energy and research funding have played a key role. And things could change again, quickly: new technologies like floating wind turbines they could open up new areas to wind energy potential.
And wind power in Italy?
Italy is experiencing a phase of significant growth in the wind energy sector. With a projection of capacity growth from 13.33 gigawatts in 2023 to 17.51 gigawatts by 2028, the country is in line with the objectives outlined in the National Energy and Climate Plan 2030. The regions of Puglia, Sicily e Campania are at the forefront, and investment in the sector has increased significantly, passing from 123 million euros in 2020 to 787 million euros in 2022.
Challenges and prospects
Wind energy in Europe faces several challenges. Wind variability can make it less predictable, requiring advanced storage solutions and smart power grids. However, the outlook is generally positive. The growing demand for clean energy, combined with the decreasing costs of wind turbines and continuous innovation, will make wind energy a pillar of the European energy mix for many years to come.
