Portugal among Europe’s fastest-growing wind markets

Europe is on track for a record year in wind power installations, and Portugal is among the continent’s 10 fastest-growing onshore markets, according to WindEurope’s autumn report. The figures matter for investors and energy companies because they point to continued expansion in Europe’s renewable power market through the end of the decade.

In the first half of 2026, Europe installed 8.8 gigawatts of new wind capacity, up 30% from the same period in 2025, WindEurope said. The industry group expects 24 GW of new wind capacity to be installed across Europe by the end of this year. Germany led first-half additions with 3.4 GW across onshore and offshore projects, while WindEurope said installations also rose significantly in Denmark, Ukraine, Poland, France and Portugal.

For onshore wind alone, Europe added 6.5 GW by June 2026, up by 0.5 GW year on year. Portugal ranked among the 10 largest installers, adding 199 MW in the first half, and is expected to reach 250 MW for the full year. Between 2026 and 2030, Portugal is forecast to add another 2.1 GW of onshore wind capacity, the 12th-largest increase among the EU’s 27 member states, according to the report.

Offshore growth remained more limited. Only Denmark, France, Germany and the UK added new offshore wind capacity in the first half. Still, WindEurope said Portugal, alongside Spain and Turkey, is moving ahead with regulatory frameworks and auction design that could unlock future offshore investment, although the association does not expect a material impact before the end of the decade.

WindEurope said €9 billion was invested in the sector in the first half and that European governments auctioned 17 GW of wind capacity over the period, with another 26 GW expected in the coming months. But the association warned that licensing, power grids and electrification policy will determine whether the current pace continues, saying structural problems remain across several markets.

Originally published at Eco.pt