Onshore Wind: Top 10 Projects and Companies in Europe in 2025 and 2024

Europe’s Quiet Revolution: How Onshore Wind Energy is Powering the Future

Across the rolling hills of France, the sun-drenched plains of Italy, and the industrial heartland of Germany, a quiet transformation is taking place. It doesn’t roar like a jet engine or dominate the skyline like a skyscraper. Instead, it turns with a steady, silent grace. This is the revolution of onshore wind energy, a clean technology that has moved from a hopeful alternative to a foundational pillar of Europe’s energy strategy. As the continent strives for energy independence and a net-zero future, the steady proliferation of wind farms is more than just an environmental goal—it’s a story of technological mastery, strategic investment, and a tangible shift in how millions of homes receive their power. Recent projects aren’t just dots on a map; they are the real-world evidence of this powerful, accelerating change.

Recent Onshore Wind Installations: The Momentum in Action

The commitment to onshore wind is clearly visible in the recent commissioning and permitting of several significant projects across Europe. These installations, led by major energy players, highlight a consistent and scalable approach to deploying clean power directly to communities.

1. RWE Inaugurates Nouvions Onshore Wind Farm in France

Company: RWE
Installation Capacity: 44 MW
Applications: Not specified.
Source: RWE inaugurates its biggest onshore wind farm in France

2. RWE commissions 54-megawatt wind farm in Italy

Company: RWE
Installation Capacity: 54 MW
Applications: 12 x 4.5-MW turbines will supply up to 55,000 Italian homes with green electricity.
Source: RWE commissions 54-megawatt wind farm in Italy

3. PNE Group Receives Permits for Three New Wind Farms in Germany

Company: PNE Group
Installation Capacity: 46 MW
Applications: The three wind farms will be able to meet the annual electricity needs of around 36,000 three-person households.
Source: PNE Group receives permits for three new wind farms in Germany

Table: Recent European Onshore Wind Projects

From Grid-Scale to Grid-Integrated: Wind Powering European Homes

The most telling pattern in these installations is not just the generation capacity, but the specified application: powering tens of thousands of homes. Both the RWE project in Italy (55,000 homes) and the PNE Group’s German farms (36,000 households) frame their impact in direct, human-centric terms. This signals a crucial strategic shift. Onshore wind is no longer an abstract contributor to a national grid; it is being positioned as a local, community-integrated power source. This approach serves a dual purpose. It makes the benefits of the energy transition tangible for the public, fostering wider acceptance and political support. It also demonstrates that the technology is reliable and scalable enough to become a primary power provider for entire towns and regions, weaving clean energy directly into the fabric of daily life.

The European Heartland’s Wind Revolution

The geographic clustering of these projects in Germany, France, and Italy is strategically significant. This is not a phenomenon relegated to Europe’s periphery; it is happening in its core economic engines. Germany, already Europe’s wind power leader, continues its build-out with projects like PNE’s, reinforcing its commitment. More importantly, RWE’s major investments—including its largest-ever onshore farm in France and a powerful 54 MW facility in Italy—demonstrate that momentum is expanding decisively across other key EU states. This concentration implies a coordinated mainstream push, driven by shared policy goals under the EU’s umbrella, rather than isolated, opportunistic developments. It confirms that Europe’s industrial leaders are treating onshore wind as a central part of their national energy and decarbonization strategies.

Beyond Demonstration: Onshore Wind’s Commercial Prime

These installations unequivocally prove that onshore wind has graduated from demonstration to full commercial maturity. The project capacities—44 MW, 54 MW, and 46 MW—are substantial, bankable, and built for long-term operation. They are not tests or pilot programs. The technological sophistication is also noteworthy. RWE’s use of 12 individual 4.5-MW turbines in its Italian farm highlights the industry standard of deploying powerful, highly efficient machines to maximize output from a given land area. This level of commercial readiness and technological advancement is precisely what’s needed for Europe to meet its ambitious target of installing an average of 23 GW of new wind capacity annually through 2030. The technology is no longer a question mark; it’s a proven, off-the-shelf solution ready for mass deployment.

The Blueprint for a Powered Continent

Ultimately, these projects are more than just successful installations; they are a replicable blueprint for Europe’s energy future. The consistent project sizes, the use of advanced turbine technology, and the focus on powering local communities across key nations like Germany, France, and Italy reveal a standardized, effective model for decarbonization. The forward-looking insight is clear: the challenge is no longer about proving the technology, but about accelerating its deployment. With a mature supply chain and strong policy drivers, these farms signal the beginning of a sustained, large-scale implementation phase. They are the tangible evidence that Europe is actively building its clean energy future, one powerful turbine at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is onshore wind energy described as a ‘quiet revolution’ in Europe?
It’s called a ‘quiet revolution’ because onshore wind has shifted from being a minor alternative energy source to a foundational pillar of Europe’s energy strategy. This transformation is happening steadily and without fanfare, but it represents a major, tangible shift in how the continent is powering its future, aiming for energy independence and net-zero emissions.

What do the recent projects in France, Italy, and Germany have in common?
These projects, led by companies like RWE and PNE Group, share several key characteristics: they have substantial generation capacities (between 44 MW and 54 MW), they use advanced and efficient turbine technology, and they are explicitly intended to power tens of thousands of local homes, making the energy transition tangible for communities.

Why is the location of these new wind farms in Germany, France, and Italy significant?
The location is significant because these countries are Europe’s core economic engines. Placing major wind farms here, rather than on the continent’s periphery, demonstrates that onshore wind is a central part of the national energy and decarbonization strategies of Europe’s industrial leaders, signaling a coordinated, mainstream push.

How are these new wind farms directly impacting European homes?
The projects are framed in terms of their direct, human-centric impact. For instance, the RWE wind farm in Italy is designed to supply green electricity to 55,000 homes, and the PNE Group’s projects in Germany will meet the annual needs of about 36,000 households. This approach directly integrates clean energy into the fabric of daily life.

Are these wind farms considered experimental or fully commercial?
They are unequivocally fully commercial. The article emphasizes that with capacities of 44 MW, 46 MW, and 54 MW, these are not pilot programs or tests. They are substantial, bankable installations using mature, highly efficient technology, proving that onshore wind is a ready, off-the-shelf solution for large-scale deployment across Europe.