Figures and data noted below come from the Wind Europe document ‘Wind Energy in Europe: 2023 Statistics and the outlook for 2024-2030.’

Introduction

I have just returned from the WindEurope conference in Bilbao, Spain, a key event that offered valuable insight into where the global wind sector is heading. For Atlantic Canada, it was a powerful glimpse of what’s possible in both onshore and offshore wind.

Europe’s scale is unmatched, but Atlantic Canada brings its own strengths: abundant resources, vast geography, and growing momentum. The question now is, how do we turn that potential into reality?

Event Highlights and Relevance

WindEurope 2024 brought together developers, policymakers, and suppliers across Europe’s onshore and offshore wind sector. The figures shared at the event reflect the maturity of the industry:

• 272 GW of installed capacity (238 GW onshore, 34 GW offshore)

• 18 GW of new capacity installed in 2023

• A target to add 260 GW more by 2030

• 736 MW of older capacity decommissioned last year

Why this matters to Pedal & Shift:

We use insights from events like this to help technical service firms align with emerging opportunities in global supply chains.

Understanding The Scale

📊 Chart: Distribution of Wind Installations by Country (2014–2023)

Europe added 18 GW of wind capacity in 2023. This chart shows the country-by-country distribution of new installations over the past decade; with consistent leadership from Germany, Spain, and the UK, and increasing activity across the continent.

To put things in perspective:

• Muskrat Falls = 0.824 GW

• Upper Churchill = 5.4 GW

• Europe’s wind capacity = 272 GW

The 18 GW added in 2023 is the equivalent of more than three Upper Churchill-sized builds in one year.

Powering Europe's Grid

📊 Chart: Wind Generation and Demand Coverage (2023)

This graphic shows monthly electricity generation from onshore and offshore wind in 2023, and how much of Europe’s total electricity demand it met. Wind now supplies nearly 20% of all demand.

Wind now plays a central role in meeting the continent’s electricity demand:

• 17% of EU demand met by onshore wind

• 2% met by offshore

• Capacity factors: 24% onshore, 34% offshore

• Record wind generation occurred in December 2023

Hydrogen-Linked Projects

In addition to electricity generation, several wind projects in Europe are now being developed for green hydrogen production. These include both onshore and offshore facilities; some designed similarly to oil platforms, with fixed structures on the seabed.

Similar projects have been proposed in Newfoundland & Labrador and Nova Scotia, with hydrogen production seen as a long-term opportunity linked to wind development.

What This Means for Atlantic Canada

Europe’s wind sector has been built over more than 20 years. Atlantic Canada can’t replicate that overnight; but it can accelerate faster with the right planning and positioning.

The opportunity here isn’t just in turbines. It’s in understanding and targeting the full sector:

• Construction and fabrication
  
  
• Transportation and port logistics
  
  
• Operations and maintenance
  
  
• Hydrogen infrastructure

With natural resources, deepwater ports, and a skilled industrial base, the region is well-positioned, but only if businesses start preparing now.

Ian Froude

Founder – Pedal & Shift

Pedal & Shift provides strategy and business development services for technical firms. We specialize in helping clients grow in renewable energy and ocean technology markets across Atlantic Canada and Europe.