Bogdan Tudorache

If European governments fully implement their National Energy & Climate Plans, then Europe will have 392 GW of wind capacity by 2030, up from 192 GW. And that would take the job count from 300,000 to 450,000, according to WindEurope’s latest report, “Wind energy and economic recovery in Europe,” seen by energynomics.ro.

But if Governments don’t implement their NECPs – crucially, if they don’t improve their current approach to permitting – then there will only be 327 GW of wind by 2030, says the report.

And that would have a really negative impact economically. “We’d in fact lose around 20,000 jobs; and communities would lose out too. The report shows how wind pays €5bn worth of taxes each year across Europe and helps local communities through benefit funds and community ownership.”

The report also shows that each additional 1 GW of wind contributes €2.5bn to the EU’s GDP. Put another way, each new turbine generates on average €10m worth of economic activity.

Wind energy already employs 300,000 people across Europe and contributes €37bn to EU GDP each year.