Wind Energy Expansion Accelerates: North Rhine-Westphalia Installs 1.3 GW in 2025

North Rhine-Westphalia recorded an unprecedented surge in onshore wind power growth in 2025, marking a significant milestone in Germany’s renewable energy development. For the first time, annual wind energy additions in the region exceeded the one-gigawatt threshold.

Preliminary data from the national energy registry indicate that 259 new wind turbines were commissioned during the year, adding a combined gross capacity of approximately 1.35 gigawatts. Compared with the previous year, this represents an increase of nearly 80 percent. After accounting for the decommissioning of older turbines, the net capacity gain amounted to around 1.29 gigawatts.

This performance placed North Rhine-Westphalia at the top nationwide in both gross and net additions, ahead of other leading wind energy regions. The figures demonstrate the scale of wind energy expansion in Germany when permitting processes, industry stakeholders, and policy objectives are aligned.

Looking ahead, installed capacity is expected to continue rising. Existing permits already cover more than 6 gigawatts of additional projects, suggesting that annual additions could exceed 1.5 gigawatts in the near term. However, maintaining the current pace will require sustained progress across multiple areas.

Grid Constraints and Infrastructure Challenges

Despite faster permitting procedures, several obstacles remain. Transport bottlenecks caused by aging road and bridge infrastructure continue to complicate the delivery of large turbine components. In addition, uncertainty surrounding upcoming regulatory reforms could affect investment security for new renewable energy projects.

A growing concern is the limited availability of grid infrastructure. While project approvals are increasing, insufficient grid capacity is becoming a critical barrier to connecting new wind farms. From initial application to commissioning, wind energy projects currently require an average of three and a half years, with grid connection increasingly emerging as the decisive factor.