Onshore wind farms are expected to account for the majority of new wind capacity additions in Europe over the remainder of the decade. Industry forecasts suggest that Europe could add around 151 GW of new wind capacity between 2026 and 2030, with approximately 117 GW coming from onshore projects, while offshore developments are expected to contribute the remaining 34 GW.
The European Union is projected to lead this expansion, with around 112 GW of new capacity expected across the EU by the end of the decade. Annual installations are forecast to average about 22 GW within the EU and approximately 30 GW across Europe as a whole, indicating a steady but accelerating build-out of wind generation.
If these projections materialize, total installed wind capacity in Europe could reach approximately 439 GW by 2030, including 366 GW of onshore capacity and 73 GW offshore. This would significantly strengthen wind power’s position as a core pillar of the European electricity system.
At the same time, the industry is preparing for a wave of decommissioning of older wind farms, with around 16 GW of existing capacity expected to be retired between 2026 and 2030. Roughly half of this volume is likely to be repowered with newer turbines, while the remainder will be permanently decommissioned.
Repowering is becoming increasingly important as modern turbines are significantly larger and more efficient than earlier generations. New offshore turbines now average around 10.7 MW per unit, compared with approximately 5.2 MW for new onshore installations, highlighting the rapid technological progress and improving efficiency across the sector.
