The conversations defining Europe’s wind sector

With WindEurope 2026 just weeks away, the event comes at an important time for the European wind sector. According to the latest WindEurope Outlook, Europe is expected to build 151 GW of new wind capacity by 2030 – a clear signal of the industry’s continued momentum. However, as the sector scales to meet this demand, key topics such as evolving global competition, supply chain capacity, workforce development, and the sector’s increasing focus on safety are likely to shape discussions across the event.

Increased OEM competition:

One of the most widely discussed developments in the industry is expected to be the growing presence of Chinese OEMs in the European wind market. Their entry is introducing a new level of competition into a sector traditionally dominated by a relatively small group of European manufacturers, while also helping address capacity constraints as demand for new turbines continues to grow. However, Chinese OEMs generally have limited operations and maintenance (O&M) infrastructure in Europe, creating concerns around spare part availability and servicing – factors which ultimately influence turbine uptime and project performance. The conversation becomes not just about competition but about how the European wind ecosystem adapts to a more globalised industry.

Tackling the industry’s talent shortage:

If there is one challenge that consistently surfaces across the wind sector, it is the shortage of skilled technicians. Throughout Europe, demand for qualified personnel continues to outpace supply. Independent service providers and OEMs are often competing for the same limited talent pool, while at the same time project pipelines continue to expand. This issue highlights a structural challenge within the industry – technicians must meet strict certification requirements and increasingly rigorous safety standards, yet training capacity has not scaled at the same pace as demand. The industry must invest more heavily in developing new talent pipelines and this is something FairWind is already addressing.

We have invested in our own training capabilities through the European Wind Academy where we are actively developing and training technicians to expand the talent pipeline, ensuring a competent workforce and driving increased safety standards across the industry. This capability also opens the door to deeper collaboration with OEM partners, ensuring that personnel are trained to OEM-specific requirements.

A growing focus on service capabilities:

As the global wind fleet continues to age, there is increasing emphasis on keeping these assets operational. This has created a new wave of demand, from maintenance and blade repair to major corrective works and decommissioning. As turbines mature and fleets expand, the long-term performance of assets is becoming just as important as their initial installation. The companies that can support projects throughout the full lifecycle will be best positioned to support the next phase of industry growth. FairWind is responding to this demand by positioning our business to support all stages of the turbine lifecycle to reflect the broader industry trends.

Expanding across emerging European markets:

Looking ahead, the Mediterranean region’s largest wind markets – Spain, France and Italy – are expected to remain relatively stable in the coming years. However, growth opportunities are increasingly emerging in newer markets across Central and Eastern Europe. Countries such as Croatia and Romania are beginning to see rising project activity, and these markets are becoming an important focus for companies positioning themselves for future growth. As activity increases in emerging markets, maintaining consistent safety practices across regions will be essential to ensure project reliability and workforce protection. Events like WindEurope provide an opportunity for the industry to step back and examine these trends collectively. The conversations taking place this year will likely reflect a sector that is not just growing – but evolving.

FairWind will be exhibiting on stand 9-B122 from 21-23 April, if you’d like to arrange an appointment to speak to our team please contact windeurope@fairwind.com