Europe is falling well short of its wind energy expansion targets, according to industry association WindEurope.

An estimated 17 to 18 gigawatts (GW) of new onshore and offshore wind capacity were added across the continent last year, according to preliminary figures, well below what is required to stay on track for Europe’s energy goals, the association said.

WindEurope had already cut its forecast for 2025 installations to 19 GW from 22.5 GW in September, citing slow electrification, grid bottlenecks and persistent permitting delays.

The European Union aims for renewable energy to account for 42.5% of total energy consumption by 2030, a target that requires a substantial acceleration in wind power deployment.

Despite the shortfall, WindEurope chief executive Tinne van der Straeten said the sector remained broadly resilient, noting that while current deployment is lagging behind earlier goals, national plans and strong industrial players have left the industry in a solid position.

She said reaching the target could not be guaranteed but emphasized that clear objectives were essential to making progress.

Van der Straeten added that geopolitical uncertainty could help drive further investment in wind energy, arguing that energy security had become a strategic priority.

Europe remained heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels such as gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil, she said, and expanding onshore and offshore wind capacity would be key to replacing those imports with reliable and clean electricity.