EU wind capacity hits 392 GW in EWEA's 2030 High Scenario

EWEA's capacity scenarios and macro-economic benefits.

The EU could reach a total wind power capacity of about 392 GW by 2030 for a 204% jump over 2014 levels, according to an updated best-case scenario by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).

In a new report, EWEA said that the recent regulatory and economic developments in the EU have brought significant changes to the wind energy perspective for the next 15 years, prompting an update to the association's 2030 vision for the sector.

EWEA presented three scenarios based on whether a clear 2030 governance structure is implemented and on the achievement or failure to achieve the EU-wide 27% renewable energy target by 2030. In broad terms, the target has been met or even exceeded in the Central and High scenarios, respectively, but missed in the low one.

The table shows the projected installed wind capacity in the EU, based on each scenario.

Scenarios:
Scenarios:	Onshore wind	Offshore wind	Total capacity	Total value (in EUR)
Low	206.3 GW	44.6 GW	250.9 GW	367 billion
Central	253.6 GW	66.5 GW	320.1 GW	474 billion
High	294 GW	98.1 GW	392.1 GW	591 billion

In the Low Scenario, EU wind farms have the combined capacity to generate a total of 604 TWh of electricity in 2030, which is enough to meet 19% of EU power demand. Onshore wind parks help cover 13.8% of demand, while offshore wind farms meet 5.2%.

In the Central Scenario, wind parks will produce 778 TWh of electricity in 2030, equal to 24.4% of power demand, including a 7.7% by offshore wind share.

The High Scenario envisages wind parks generating 988 TWh in 2030, equal to 31% of EU electricity demand, including 19.7% from onshore and 11.3% from offshore wind.

In each one of these scenarios, Germany is the country with the most wind power capacity. EWEA expects it to have 75 GW under the Low, 80 GW under the Central, and 87.5 GW under the High Scenario.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.126)

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