Wind Power Fuels Nearly Fifth of EU Electricity in 2025; Slovakia Lags

In 2025, wind energy solidified its position as a cornerstone of the European Union's power supply, meeting nearly a fifth of the bloc's electricity demand. A report by WindEurope highlights that wind power accounted for 19% of the EU's total electricity consumption, a remarkable figure that underscores its growing importance in the continent's energy landscape. Denmark stands out, achieving an impressive milestone by sourcing half of its electricity from wind.

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Even these figures show that European industry and households cannot do without wind energy. Wind energy is no longer a marginal, but on the contrary, in times of global conflicts, one of the safest sources of cost-effective electricity.

The expansion of wind power across the EU is evident in the addition of over 15,000 megawatts of new installed capacity in 2025. Germany led this charge, contributing 5,735 MW, followed by Sweden with 1,767 MW and Spain with 1,563 MW. This growth demonstrates a clear European commitment to renewable energy, driven by the need for energy security and climate action. Notably, over 90% of these new capacities were onshore installations, proving their efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

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More than 90% of new capacities in Europe last year were added onshore, which according to Lacko confirms the efficiency of this technology when used outside of offshore power plants.

In stark contrast, Slovakia's contribution to wind energy remains minimal. The country has not seen a single new wind power plant since 2004, with its total installed capacity standing at a mere 4 MW. Ján Lacko of the Slovak Association for Sustainable Energy (SAPI) attributes this stagnation primarily to a protracted and cumbersome permitting process, with some projects languishing in environmental impact assessments for over four years. This bureaucratic inertia is preventing significant investment, estimated at 1.5 billion euros, from flowing into the sector.

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In Slovakia, no new wind power plant has been added since 2004, and the current ones have a total capacity of 4 MW.

While the EU graves with permitting delays as a major bottleneck, countries like Germany offer a model for efficient development, issuing permits for 20,800 MW of onshore projects in 2025 and shortening approval times to an average of 17 months. Slovakia's situation is particularly concerning given its neighbors, like Poland, are actively expanding their wind capacity with ambitious targets. The potential for wind energy in Slovakia is substantial, yet it remains largely untapped due to regulatory hurdles, a situation that contrasts sharply with the dynamic growth seen across the rest of Europe and the world, especially China, which accounted for nearly 75% of global new wind capacity additions last year.

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In Slovakia, current projects have been in the EIA process for more than four years.