Wind turbines stand at a wind park in Marsberg, Germany. The Netherlands and Belgium, on the other hand, have a strong offshore and marine operation industry, which has led to the development of new technologies for offshore wind energy,” he explains.

“Countries like Germany, Denmark, and Spain have a strong manufacturing industry, with many companies specialising in wind turbine production and other related technologies. This often leads to cancelled projects and an uncertain environment for developers, according to Christoph Zipf, spokesperson for WindEurope.Īlongside policy, a strong industrial presence can help boost wind development, says Po Wen Cheng, head of wind energy at the University of Stuttgart.

Italy also struggles as its permitting process gives authorities vetoing powers. He points to other countries, like Latvia, which have a high potential for wind power but lack targets to make it a reality. Then you align all of the other policies and spatial planning and permitting and grid planning etc. “The main lesson I would draw from countries like Denmark, Germany and the UK, is that you have to have a clear and stable strategy and ambitious targets.

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