WindEurope Calls for Accelerated Electrification to Secure Europe’s Energy Future

At the WindEurope Annual Event 2026, the association presented the “Madrid Call to Action,” urging Europe to replace fossil-fuel imports with homegrown electricity. Organisers said rapid electrification protects households and industry from volatile fossil-price swings and restores investor confidence.

Electrify Europe now: homegrown electricity is the way out of Europe’s energy crisis

The EU imports 64 % of its energy, a structural weakness highlighted by the war in Iran and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Although renewable generation has grown since 2022, the EU’s electrification rate stays below 25 % of total energy use, showing a slow shift from fossil to electric power.

Electrify Europe now: homegrown electricity is the way out of Europe’s energy crisis

Key actors include WindEurope, led by CEO Tinne van der Straeten; the European Commission, preparing the “Accelerate EU” package; and France, committing €10 billion annually to electrification, banning gas boilers in new buildings from 2026, and targeting two-thirds of new car sales to be electric by 2030. EU Member States have permitted 43.5 GW of wind capacity since 2022, enough to generate about 115 TWh per year, exceeding the Netherlands’ electricity demand.

Electrify Europe now: homegrown electricity is the way out of Europe’s energy crisis

The EU imports 64 % of its energy while electrification is under 25 % of total use. Up to 930 TWh of industrial heat could be electrified, matching France and Germany’s combined power demand. The 43.5 GW of wind capacity permitted since 2022 could produce about 115 TWh annually, enough to replace roughly 1,000 LNG cargoes each year. French fiscal measures include €10 bn support, zero-VAT on heat pumps and EVs, and permanent electricity tax cuts.

Electrify Europe now: homegrown electricity is the way out of Europe’s energy crisis

WindEurope’s CEO Tinne van der Straeten said each unit of oil, coal or gas displaced by renewable electricity reduces import reliance and strengthens European resilience. The European Commission’s “Accelerate EU” package aims to upgrade grids, reform taxes and lower levies so renewable electricity becomes the cheapest option for consumers and industry. France’s announcements stress fiscal incentives and a ban on gas boilers in new buildings to accelerate electrification.

Electrify Europe now: homegrown electricity is the way out of Europe’s energy crisis

Sources describe progress as “slow” and the EU’s electrification rate as “stagnating,” indicating policies fall short of the energy-crisis urgency. Industry is urged to target low-hanging fruit such as low- and medium-temperature process heat, but high electricity taxes and complex state-aid rules impede broader adoption.

Electrify Europe now: homegrown electricity is the way out of Europe’s energy crisis

> “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.” — Tinne van der Straeten, CEO, WindEurope

Electrify Europe now: homegrown electricity is the way out of Europe’s energy crisis

The European Commission will release the “Accelerate EU” package today, detailing grid investments and tax reforms. France’s €10 bn electrification plan and 2026 boiler ban will roll out, while EU Member States are expected to align policies with the Madrid Call to Action.

Electrify Europe now: homegrown electricity is the way out of Europe’s energy crisis