Each new wind turbine installed in Europe generates €10m of economic activity

Wind energy is 300,000 jobs in Europe and contributes €37bn to EU GDP every year according to WindEurope’s new report: ‘Wind Energy and economic recovery in Europe – How wind energy will put communities at the heart of the European recovery”. European leadership in wind energy will continue to boost jobs and benefit communities. Delivering the National Energy and Climate Plans is key.

If Governments fully implement their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), Europe will have over twice as much wind energy capacity as today by 2030. And 50% more jobs in wind by 2030 – 450,000. Wind will be 30% of Europe’s electricity consumption, up from 15% today. And it will be contributing €50bn to Europe’s GDP.

But as they stand, the NECPs will struggle to deliver this. They give insufficient visibility on when and how Governments will auction new wind farms. And they fail to simplify the process of getting permits for wind farms. If this doesn’t improve, Europe will not have enough new wind, and will actually lose 20,000 jobs compared to today. 

Read the press release from Wind Europe.