As Europe reassesses its energy security strategy, WindEurope positions electrification as the primary pathway out of the ongoing energy crisis.
According to a statement released on 22 April 2026, accelerating electrification based on homegrown electricity is essential for Europe to move from crisis to confidence. The announcement was made during the WindEurope Annual Event 2026 in Madrid.
Electrification as a strategic imperative
WindEurope highlights that Europe’s reliance on imported fossil fuels represents a structural vulnerability. The European Union currently imports 64% of the energy it consumes, creating exposure to geopolitical risks and price volatility.
Replacing fossil fuel imports with domestically produced renewable electricity is presented as a long-term solution to stabilise energy prices, strengthen industrial competitiveness, and restore investor confidence across the region.
Wind energy at the core of the transition
Wind energy is identified as a central component of this transition. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Europe has increased its production of homegrown renewable energy while reducing energy imports.
However, progress on electrification remains limited. The electrification rate in the EU is still below one quarter of total energy consumption, indicating a significant gap between ambition and implementation.
Tinne van der Straeten, CEO of WindEurope, stated:
“Every drop of oil, every tonne of coal, every molecule of gas we replace with renewable electricity is energy we no longer need to import. Electrification is therefore a strategic imperative for Europe’s independence, resilience, and prosperity.”
The “Madrid Call to Action”
Through its “Madrid Call to Action”, WindEurope outlined ten concrete measures to accelerate electrification across Europe. The framework is built on three core pillars:
- Increasing renewable electricity supply
- Connecting supply effectively to demand
- Enabling consumers and industry to adopt electrified solutions easily and affordably
Key policy measures
The proposed actions include:
- Prioritising sectors that can be easily electrified
- Reducing VAT on heat pumps and electric vehicles to zero
- Permanently lowering taxes and levies on electricity
- Simplifying State aid rules
- Accelerating Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for industry
WindEurope notes that up to 930 TWh of industrial process heat—particularly in low- and medium-temperature applications—can already be electrified. This volume is equivalent to the combined electricity demand of France and Germany.
Anticipation around EU policy response
The European Commission is expected to publish its energy crisis response package, “Accelerate EU”, which will include measures related to electricity grids, taxation, and market design.
At the national level, some Member States have already taken steps. France plans to increase its electrification support to €10 billion annually by 2030, while banning gas boilers in new buildings from 2026.
Additionally, 43.5 GW of wind capacity permitted since 2022 could generate approximately 115 TWh of electricity—exceeding the annual power demand of the Netherlands.
A structural shift towards electrification
WindEurope concludes that transitioning to a system based on homegrown electricity is essential for strengthening Europe’s energy security and industrial competitiveness.
Accelerating electrification is therefore positioned not only as an energy policy priority, but as a structural transformation shaping Europe’s economic future.
