WindEurope 2026: From crisis to confidence

Homegrown electricity is Europe's only future-proof energy strategy. The war in Iran reminded Europe, again, that fossil fuels need to be replaced by homegrown electricity. As the WindEurope Annual Event 2026 kicks off in Madrid today, Europe's wind industry will publish the 'Madrid Call to Action'. It calls on EU leaders to treat electrification as a strategic priority and sets out 10 readily available actions to move Europe from crisis to confidence in a decade.

The war in Iran reminded Europe, again, that fossil fuels need to be replaced by homegrown electricity. Fast.

Europe already decided to repower its economy after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Wind and solar scaled up. The wind sector alone invested €45 billion in new capacity in 2025.Wind now delivers 20% of Europe's electricity. And Europe's wind value chain, driven by 440,000 Europeans, makes a decisive contribution to Europe's strategic autonomy.

The job is not done. Electricity is less than 25% of all the energy we use. That's a threat to energy security.

We call on EU Leaders to treat electrification as a strategic priority, not a policy footnote. It means cutting through complexity. And putting European citizens, businesses and industries first. By making sure that homegrown electricity is abundantly available, flows to homes and factories, and is affordable.

The Madrid Call to Action proposes 10 concrete and readily available policy actions to overcome the current crisis and re-build Europe's energy confidence:

Boosting electricity supply

1. Fast-track permitting - treat wind as an overriding public interest; apply tacit approval for the next 9 months.
2. Make the most of wind auctions - award at least 80% of wind bids, no more artificial scarcity.
3. Repower ageing wind farms tripling their output with fewer turbines.

Connect this supply to demand

1. Prioritise grid connections for mature, strategic projects and clear out zombie projects clogging the queue.
2. Scale up grid equipment manufacturing through framework contracts.
3. Multiply EU grid funding by 5 and crowd in private finance.

Empower demand: make the switch easy and affordable today

1. Zero VAT on heat pumps and electric vehicles.
2. Prioritise electrification in low and medium temperature industrial processes.
3. Permanently cut taxes on electricity - homegrown power should be the cheapest power.
4. Simplify State aid for industry switching to renewables via PPAs.

Background:
The WindEurope Annual Event 2026 takes place in Madrid on 21-23 April 2026. The 3 day conference and exhibition will gather more than 15,000 wind energy experts and decision makers. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will speak at the event inauguration on 21 April.

On the conference stages, more than 400 speakers will cover all aspects of wind energy development. Among them are European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen, Spanish Energy Minister Sara Aagesen and 13 other national Ministers or State Secretaries as well as leading industry CEOs. More than 620 exhibitors will present themselves and their products at the WindEurope Annual Event 2026, more than in any previous edition.