Following a very positive previous year, the German wind energy industry has concluded another strong year with new records in terms of approval and contract volumes. The industry wants to face up to its growing responsibility for the German energy system, emphasizes BWE President Bärbel Heidebroek.
Heidebroek: “The figures speak for themselves: wind energy is the strong backbone of the German electricity mix. Together with other renewables, wind energy thus makes a significant contribution to the security and resilience of the energy supply. We are ready to take on responsibility for the entire system. Wind can do more than just supply cheap electricity. Our plants are an essential part of the energy mix and want to do more for the production of green hydrogen. We already supply clean electricity for electric cars and can make a much greater contribution to producing CO2-neutral heat in the future. There is no way around wind energy in an efficient, secure, and cost-effective energy system.”
New construction, approvals, and contract volumes developed very dynamically in 2025 and are at a high level. The south is also catching up: in Bavaria, the balance sheet showed a newly approved volume of almost 1,000 megawatts after the first three quarters of the year. The tender rounds evaluated so far have all been oversubscribed. According to all forecasts, the awarded volume will be around 14,000 megawatts by the end of this year. Against this backdrop, the BWE president is now calling for clarity and planning security for the coming years.
“With the upcoming reform of the EEG in 2026, the federal government must ensure that the expansion of German wind energy can continue to develop at a rapid pace. To achieve this, we need clear and realistic electricity volume and stable expansion targets, as well as a security system that continues to enable all players in the industry to plan and implement their projects on economic terms. It will be crucial to prioritize and accelerate the expansion of the grids as quickly as possible so that the expected high level of expansion in the coming years can actually be connected to the grid. The expansion of renewables must not be slowed down until the grids have caught up. The grids must not only be expanded, but also comprehensively digitized. Greater transparency in the grid will make it much easier to manage loads and connections. There is still a lot of untapped potential for acceleration here. The industry is also still waiting for progress to be made on the issue of electricity market design,” said Heidebroek.
Overall, the industry is looking ahead to the coming year with confidence. Bärbel Heidebroek: “The German wind industry has proven its capabilities for another year in a row. Even the ambitious expansion targets set out in the EEG are within reach from the end of 2026. With the right framework conditions, wind energy can unfold its full potential and provide a secure, independent, and affordable energy supply for a modern industrialized country.”
Source: BWE
