- Details
- Category: Publishers Note
Legal challenges provide the US wind sector with renewed confidence
The latest figures from the American Clean Power Association (ACP) show that the USA’s installed utility-scale clean power capacity exceeded 370GW during the first quarter of 2026 following the addition of 6.4GW of new solar, wind and energy storage capacity. The growth was driven mainly by solar and battery storage, while wind energy continues to face more difficult conditions. The onshore wind pipeline remained largely unchanged, while the offshore wind pipeline declined by 35%, with permitting delays, regulatory uncertainty, and challenges in securing federal approvals all contributing to the slowdown.
- Details
- Category: Publishers Note
Global wind energy growth continues with strong expansion led by China
According to preliminary figures from the World Wind Energy Association’s Annual Report 2025, global wind capacity additions exceeded 169GW in 2025, marking a 35% increase compared with 2024. Total installed capacity rose to nearly 1,347GW, representing the strongest annual growth since 2020. Wind power generation approached 3,000 terawatt-hours and supplied more than 11% of global electricity demand.
- Details
- Category: Publishers Note
Coalition of the willing for renewables
The world is once again facing an uncertain future as multiple conflicts continue to unfold. In my March/April 2022 note, titled ‘How many wake-up calls does the world need?’, I reflected on the energy crisis at the time. As events stand today, it appears that more wake-up calls are needed, as the world finds itself in a similar situation. Oil and gas prices are rising sharply and it remains unclear when, or whether, they will return to more stable levels.
- Details
- Category: Publishers Note
North Sea offshore wind pact and US rulings highlight diverging policy paths
At the North Sea Summit in Hamburg, Germany, in January 2026, European governments, transmission system operators, and the offshore wind industry agreed an Investment Pact aimed at strengthening planning certainty, mobilising capital, and improving coordination in offshore wind deployment across the North Sea. Participating countries confirmed a long-term target of 300GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050 and outlined a coordinated buildout pathway supported by regulatory and financial measures.
- Details
- Category: Publishers Note
Year in review: resilience amid policy shifts and market realignment
The past year has been defined by a widening policy divide between the USA and Europe, China’s continued dominance in wind manufacturing and deployment, and a renewed test of industry resilience in the face of regulatory uncertainty. What began with speculation about shifts in US federal energy policy has now materialised into a steady stream of restrictive measures, affecting both offshore and onshore wind development. At the same time, Europe has strengthened its long-term climate framework, while China has accelerated wind and solar deployment at a pace unmatched elsewhere.
- Details
- Category: Publishers Note
Daily legislative hurdles for renewable energy in the USA
Almost every day, new rules or policy changes emerge in the USA that place further barriers in the way of renewable energy projects. Wind and solar have been singled out most often, creating an environment in which developers face not just uncertainty but a series of obstacles that appear designed to slow deployment. By the time this note is published, it is likely that further announcements will already have been added to the list.
- Details
- Category: Publishers Note
Policy divergence deepens between USA and Europe in wind energy development
At the 2025 Cleanpower show in Phoenix, Arizona, USA the mood was cautiously optimistic following the announcement that the Empire Wind 1 project could resume construction. The U.S. Department of the Interior had issued a stop-work order just weeks earlier, raising fears that further delays might follow. However, despite this reprieve, the industry remains unsettled by the broader policy direction under the Trump Administration.
