Germany’s Onshore Wind Sector Sees Record First Half – But Gaps Remain
Source: reNEWS

 

Germany’s onshore wind industry has recorded its best first-half performance since 2017, underlining a resurgence in activity across the sector – but despite the progress, experts warn that expansion targets are still at risk.

According to data published by the Wind and Solar Agency on behalf of the German Wind Energy Association (BWE) and VDMA Power Systems (via reNEWS), 409 new onshore wind turbines were commissioned in the first six months of 2025, delivering 2.2GW of new capacity. That’s a 67% jump compared to the same period in 2024.

 

The permitting landscape also showed major improvement, with 7.8GW of new wind projects approved – more than ever before in a first half of the year, and a 55% increase year-on-year. The approval process itself has also accelerated, with an average reduction of 18 months – more than 20% faster than in 2024.

This is a positive sign for the future pipeline and indicates renewed investor and developer confidence. However, challenges remain.

 

BWE President Bärbel Heidebroek commented:

“Wind energy is on track – this is underlined by the strong figures for permits and awards... Despite the positive developments, there is a gap between the actual expansion and the targets formulated in the EEG. The EEG expansion targets will not be achievable until 2026 at the earliest.”

Dennis Rendschmidt, Managing Director of VDMA Power Systems, added:

“Despite the dynamic developments in the market, the wind industry is proving its ability to flexibly and efficiently adapt production capacities to increasing demand... But long-term investment depends on a stable and reliable political and economic framework.”

 

From our vantage point at LSP Renewables, this growth reflects a clear upward trend in hiring demand across Germany’s wind sector – particularly in project development, engineering, permitting, and operations. The compressed timelines and increased project volume are putting new pressure on the talent market, and we’re actively working with clients and candidates to meet that challenge head-on.

If you’re expanding your team or exploring new opportunities in the German renewables sector, now is a pivotal moment. Reach out to our specialist team to see how we can support your next move.