Wind Power’s Role in Germany’s Energy Mix
In the first quarter of 2025, wind energy (onshore and offshore combined) accounted for roughly 25% of Germany’s gross electricity consumption. Renewables overall supplied nearly 47% of the country’s electricity during this period, despite challenging weather conditions that led to lower wind output compared to the previous year.
Germany’s energy transition targets remain ambitious: the country aims for 80% of electricity from renewables by 2030, with wind playing a central role.
Recent Growth and Expansion
Record Approvals and Installations: The start of 2025 saw a surge in wind sector activity. Over 4,000 megawatts (MW) of new onshore wind capacity were approved in the first quarter alone—a record for this period. More than 1,000 MW of new turbines were installed between January and March, marking a 40% increase over the same period in 2024.
New Turbines: In the first half of 2025, 378 new wind turbines were connected to the grid, up from 285 in the same period last year. North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein led the country in new installations.
Regional Highlights
North Rhine-Westphalia continues to lead in both approvals and installations, with 1.7 GW licensed in Q1 2025 and 342 MW installed in just 64 new turbines.
Lower Saxony and Brandenburg also remain key hubs for wind expansion, benefiting from favorable land availability and wind conditions.
Capacity and Targets
By the end of March 2025, Germany had over 64 GW of installed onshore wind capacity across approximately 28,830 turbines.
Offshore wind capacity stands at 9.2 GW, with a target of 30 GW by 2030.
The country is on track to meet its 2030 goal of 115 GW of onshore wind.
Challenges and Opportunities
Weather Variability: Wind energy production is highly dependent on weather. In early 2025, both onshore and offshore wind generation dropped (by 22% and 31% respectively) due to weaker winds, despite the increase in installed capacity.
Faster Permitting: The duration for obtaining wind project licenses has decreased by 20% compared to 2024, reflecting recent legal reforms aimed at accelerating the energy transition.
Future Pipeline: There is a substantial pipeline of approved projects—about 28 GW available for upcoming subsidy auctions—indicating strong future growth potential.
In-Demand Roles and Skills
Looking Ahead
Germany’s wind sector is experiencing its strongest growth phase in years, supported by policy reforms, streamlined permitting, and robust investment. While weather variability remains a challenge, the sector’s expansion is critical to achieving national climate and energy goals, and it continues to generate significant opportunities for professionals across land acquisition, development, and construction.
