Why the EU supports wind energy research and innovation
Wind energy is the technology expected to provide the largest contribution to the EU renewable energy targets for 2020 and beyond.
The EU currently has the largest floating wind energy capacity in the world - about 70% of the total.
By end 2020, the total installed wind energy capacity could reach 210GW, equivalent to supplying 14% of electricity demand. By 2030 it could reach 350GW, supplying up to 24% of electricity demand.
Challenges and opportunities
Wind power is already competitive with other sources of electricity in a number of countries.
Offshore wind represents a significant future opportunity: resources are stable, abundant and public acceptance is higher.
Europe is the global leader in offshore wind. This position must be maintained in a context where global players such as the USA, China, Korea and Japan have increased their support to boost their offshore industry.
However, knowledge about potential impacts of wind energy turbines on the environment and health need to be improved, given the widespread use of the technology.
Another important challenge will be to increase the circularity of wind energy technology, taking into account the end of life of turbines and the materials dependency.
What the EU is doing
EU research and innovation aims to lower costs and increase the performance and reliability of offshore wind energy technology.
The EU is also supporting floating substructures or integrated floating wind energy systems for deeper waters and use in other climate conditions. This will increase deployment possibilities and improve the European position in the global market.
Offshore wind power in Europe is currently focused in the North Sea, which has relatively shallow water. However, more attention has been paid recently in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Coast, as floating technologies become more mature.
Research and Innovation to boost the development of offshore renewable energy (Factsheet)
Funding opportunities
Horizon Europe
Calls for proposal on energy related themes in Horizon Europe and information on the work programme.
NER 300 programme
Funding for innovative low-carbon technology research with focus on environmentally safe Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and innovative renewable energy technologies
European Climate Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)
The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) is the successor organisation of the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA).
European structural and investment funds (ESIF)
Energy research related calls may be found in these funds
LIFE
The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action.
Prize for renewable energy islands
Prize rewarding achievements in local renewable energy production for electricity, heating, cooling and transport on islands.
Projects and results
Research project database (CORDIS)
The Commission's primary portal for EU-funded research projects and their results
Project success stories
Stories of particularly successful EU-funded projects
Horizon Magazine
Latest news, interviews and features about thought-provoking science and innovative research projects funded by the EU.
Horizon Results Platform
Platform where framework programme participants present their results for you to search, contact their owners, and form partnerships.
Results packs on energy
Thematic collections of innovative EU-funded research results in the energy field
Horizon 2020 dashboard
Access to real-time programme data with the ability to filter by country, region, theme and more
Collaboration and jobs
Find project partners
Find partners for open EU calls for proposal
Public-private partnerships
Collaborate in energy research and innovation public-private partnerships
International cooperation
International cooperation between the EU and global stakeholders in energy
Jobs (EURAXESS)
Researcher jobs in related fields
Scientific publications, tools and databases
Strategic Energy Technologies Information System (SETIS)
SET-Plan implementation progress reports giving data by priority area, country and energy source
Scientific publications
Scientific energy research publications published by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Scientific research tools and databases
The Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) compiles databases and develops software and modelling tools. You can access energy research related ones here
EU publications portal
Online library of EU energy research publications
EU Open Data Portal
Single point of access to open data produced by the EU institutions - all data free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes
OpenAIRE
You can access all scientific publications from Horizon 2020 via OpenAIRE