In the first quarter of 2025, Germany licensed more than 4 GW of new onshore wind capacity. According to the Fachagentur Wind und Solar, licensing procedures have also become significantly faster, now taking 20% less time on average than in 2024.
North Rhine-Westphalia once again led the licensing rankings, with 1.7 GW of newly approved capacity. Lower Saxony, Germany’s traditional wind power powerhouse, followed with 0.8 GW. The accelerated licensing process signals a major improvement in regulatory efficiency, offering hope for quicker expansion to meet national climate and power supply goals.
Installations outpace previous years
Alongside the surge in licensing, physical installations of new turbines also gained pace in 2025. Between January and March, 1 GW of new turbines was installed, an increase of nearly 40% compared to the same period in 2024.
North Rhine-Westphalia dominated installations as well, adding 342 MW from 64 new turbines. Lower Saxony contributed 266 MW, while Brandenburg in the east added 148 MW. This strong performance reflects a growing efficiency in project execution and grid connection.
Total capacity climbs past 64 GW
By the end of March 2025, Germany’s total onshore wind power capacity surpassed 64 GW, spread across approximately 28 830 turbines. This progress supports the national goal of 115 GW by 2030 under the Renewable Energy Act (EEG).
With nearly two-thirds of the year now passed, the strong first-quarter results have laid a solid foundation. Industry analysts are watching closely to see whether permitting speed and installation rates have remained high into the second half of the year.
