Global wind turbine market hits record highs in 2025

The global wind turbine market reached a new record of installed capacity in 2025, exceeding 120 GW added in a single year. China leads this expansion with more than half of new installations, cementing its dominance in both its domestic market and exports.

Chinese manufacturers such as Goldwind, Envision and Mingyang are reshaping the competitive landscape. They offer high-capacity turbines at significantly lower prices than European rivals, which has allowed them to win contracts in emerging markets across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Traditional European manufacturers — Vestas, Siemens Gamesa and Nordex — face a two-front squeeze: shrinking margins from price competition, and supply chains strained by rising material costs. Several have announced restructurings and a pivot toward higher-value segments such as offshore wind.

The trend toward ever-larger turbines continues: 15-16 MW models for offshore wind are already in production, and 20 MW prototypes are under development. Onshore, 6-7 MW platforms are becoming the new standard, boosting output per unit and lowering the cost per megawatt-hour.

Europe faces a strategic dilemma: rely on cheaper Chinese technology or protect its wind industry with active industrial policy. The answer will determine not only the future of European manufacturing but the continent's ability to maintain technological autonomy in the energy transition.