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Europe adds 8.8 GW of wind capacity in first half of 2026
Germany contributed 3.4 GW, which made up 39% of Europe’s wind additions, bringing total installed capacity to 311 GW by the end of June.
New wind power capacity in Europe rose to 8.8 GW in the first half of 2026, up about 30% from a year earlier, according to WindEurope data cited by Reuters.
Reuters reported that Germany drove much of the growth, accounting for 39% of Europe’s first-half additions, or 3.4 GW, with offshore wind installations also supporting the increase.
By the end of June, Europe had 311 GW of installed wind power generation capacity, compared with 13 GW added throughout 2024 and 19.1 GW in 2025, per WindEurope figures.
The wind industry group said upcoming government decisions on permitting, auctions, grids, and electrification will determine whether the momentum continues, while noting that higher inflation linked to the war in the Middle East could also weigh on costs.
Reuters also noted that European policymakers, including the EU wind and solar lobbies, have called for faster and easier permitting to accelerate capacity additions, while pointing to periods of low wind as a challenge for Germany.