Current situation and outlook
Current forecasts are for sustained growth in worldwide installed capacity of wind power. While onshore installations will continue to account for most of the increase, there will also be a major rise in offshore wind, due to cost reductions and the development of floating deep-water solutions.
Worldwide, wind power capacity now exceeds one terawatt, confirming its position as one of the main sources of renewable electricity. The greatest share continues to come from onshore facilities. Nonetheless, offshore wind accounts for about 7% of the total, with tens of gigawatts now installed, enough to meet the consumption needs of millions of homes. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), forecasts suggest that global renewable capacity —including wind and solar— could increase several times over in the next decade, exceeding thousands of gigawatts, driven by cost reductions and the development of innovative technologies such as floating wind.
For many years, Europe led the way in the development of wind energy. Over the last decade, however, it has lost ground to countries such as China and the US — the new world leaders in the onshore wind market. Nevertheless, Europe continues to occupy first place in technological innovation and new offshore facilities — particularly in the field of floating offshore wind projects.
Market and technology trends
In technological terms, the trend is towards larger and more powerful turbines, as generators seek to reduce the cost per installed megawatt. However, larger turbines pose challenges in the supply chain and in standardisation. Floating offshore wind is a key solution for harnessing deepwater resources, driving pilot projects and industrial development in Europe. Digitisation and the use of advanced control systems are also essential to improving grid integration, ensuring stability and optimising operation in markets with a high level of renewable energy use. Finally, there is growing commitment to sustainable materials and blade recycling, along with strategies to strengthen supply chain resilience and train specialised personnel.
Wind energy in the Basque Country
The installed capacity of the Basque Country’s consolidated onshore wind farms now comes to 143 MW. Most were built in the 2000s by Eólicas de Euskadi — owned at the time by Ente Vasco de la Energía. However, no new wind farms have been commissioned since 2007, and installed capacity is smaller than in other regions. As a result, plans have been drawn up for repowering and new developments.
The Sectorial Territorial Plan (PTS) for Renewable Energies, provisionally approved in 2024, establishes a number of Singular Location Zones (Zonas de Localización Singular) for wind and solar projects to facilitate administrative processing and strategic planning.
Actions, Ente Vasco de la Energía
EVE is developing new onshore wind projects such as Labraza and Azazeta (40 MW each), through its affiliate Aixeindar, which is expected to start operation before 2030.
The Basque Country is now a technological reference point in floating offshore wind power, thanks to the BiMEP site at Armintza, where Spain’s first 2 MW floating wind turbine was installed in 2023. The project has underpinned the region’s position as an innovation hub in offshore technologies, with great potential for industry and the creation of specialised employment.
The Basque Country still faces major challenges —administrative procedures need to be simplified, legislation needs to be adapted, and progress needs to be made in the area of social acceptance, but there are also great opportunities to be had: leadership in floating offshore wind, industrial development linked to renewables and generation of qualified employment. The actions described above are placing the region in a strategic position to take advantage of the energy transition and consolidate its role on the global market.
