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- Renewable Insights - 51th Edition
Renewable Insights - 51th Edition
Renewable Insights: Connecting You to the Pulse of Clean Energy Developments

Hi, Watt Wizards!
Welcome to the 51th edition of “Renewable Insights,” your compass in the ever-evolving world of sustainable energy.
What can we expect in this edition?
🌍 Wind Energy Market Pulse: Is 2025 the Year the Winds Change
🌪️ Nordic Countries Lead the Way on EU Renewable Energy Targets
🔋 Poland Opens the Door for More Wind Farms
🌞 Siemens Gamesa Eyes European Magnet Production to Boost Wind Supply Chain
🔬 Solar Power Manager with F1ATB
Read previous editions here by clicking here: Mux Newsletters
What’s Trending?
1. ⚡ 🌬️ Wind Energy Market Pulse: Is 2025 the Year the Winds Change? ⚡️
Are Wind Turbine Makers Finally Catching a Break?
After years of cost crunches, 2024 brought relief for European wind turbine manufacturers. Prices have stabilized, and Western players are holding firm—keeping new turbine prices high and finally seeing margins rise.
Europe Onshore Wind: Who’s Winning in the Bidding Wars?
Think rising costs would slow down onshore wind? Think again! Germany just set a record with its largest-ever auction, proving that demand is hotter than ever.
Offshore Wind: Is the Tide Turning?
Offshore wind, once the darling of renewables, is feeling the pinch. Major developers like Ørsted are pulling back, and oil giants are demanding higher returns; some are even spinning off their wind divisions.
The Numbers Don’t Lie:
🚀 Q4 2024 European turbine orders: Soared 140% to 7.8 GW!
💡 Onshore wind: Record-breaking bids in Germany
🌊 Offshore wind: 11.7 GW up for grabs in Europe’s 2025 auctions
Are Rising Prices Killing New Projects?
With higher seller prices and less government support, some projects just don’t add up anymore especially offshore. Governments are taking notice
2025: A Make-or-Break Year for Offshore Wind?
Despite recent setbacks especially in the UK Europe is gearing up for a blockbuster 11.7 GW offshore wind auction in 2025.
European Onshore wind is thriving, offshore wind is at a crossroads, and policy changes could tip the scales.
Source : IEA World Energy Investment 2025
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2. 🌱 Nordic Countries Lead the Way on EU Renewable Energy Targets
Big news from the Nordics: All five of the region’s largest countries have already surpassed the EU’s 2030 renewable energy target seven years ahead of schedule!
Highlights at a Glance
2023 Milestone: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden each reached at least 44.4% renewables in their gross final energy consumption, beating the EU’s 2030 goal of 42.5%.
Nordic Leadership: Sweden, Finland, and Denmark now hold the top three spots for renewable energy share among all EU countries. Iceland and Norway’s shares are even higher.
Rapid Progress: Over the past 20 years, all Nordic countries have made substantial gains. Denmark tripled its renewables share, while Greenland doubled theirs. Iceland and Norway already high performers added about 30 percentage points each.
Country | 2004 Renewables Share | 2023 Renewables Share |
Denmark | Low (tripled by 2023) | 44.4%+ |
Finland | Significant increase | 44.4%+ |
Iceland | 58.9% | 79.5% (2022) |
Norway | High (hydropower) | Much higher |
Sweden | Significant increase | 44.4%+ |
Greenland | 9.5% | 19.1% |
What’s Driving the Boom?
Diverse Renewables: Hydropower dominates in Norway and Greenland, while geothermal and hydropower power Iceland. Sweden, Finland, and Denmark rely heavily on renewable waste and biofuels.
Policy Vision: The Nordic region aims to be the world’s most sustainable and integrated by 2030, with ambitious green transition measures.
EU Comparison: While the EU as a whole reached a 24.5% renewables share in 2023 (up from 9.6% in 2004), the Nordics soared from 36.4% to 61.6% in the same period.
3. Poland Opens the Door for More Wind Farms
The country has changed its wind farm rules, making it much easier to build new onshore wind projects.
The old law said wind turbines had to be really far from homes (at least 10 times the turbine’s height).
Now, turbines can be built just 500 meters from houses, as long as local zoning rules allow it.
There are still strong protections for nature—turbines must stay well away from national parks and protected areas.
Why Does This Matter?
More Land Available: The new rule means a lot more land can be used for wind farms, especially in central and northern Poland.
Faster Approvals: The process to get projects approved will be much quicker and simpler.
More Clean Energy: Experts say Poland could now reach over 41 GW of wind power by 2040 almost double what was possible before.
What's Coming Up?
Poland has about 9 GW of wind power now and wants to more than double that by 2030.
These changes will help cut coal use, attract investment, and create new jobs.
Poland’s new wind rules are a huge boost for clean energy, making it easier and faster to build wind farms across the country.
4 . Siemens Gamesa Eyes European Magnet Production to Boost Wind Supply Chain
Siemens Gamesa is in talks with top Chinese rare earth magnet suppliers to build factories right here in Europe.
The Magnet Dilemma: Why Local Production Matters
Rare earth magnets are a key part of wind turbine generators, but nearly 90% of Europe’s supply comes from China.
Recent export delays and global tensions have shown just how risky this dependence can be.
By moving production to Europe, Siemens Gamesa hopes to make the supply chain more secure and resilient—crucial as the EU pushes for greater “strategic autonomy” in clean energy.
Siemens Gamesa’s Game Plan: Bringing Manufacturing Home
Siemens Gamesa is negotiating with major Chinese producers like JL MAG Rare-Earth and Ningbo Yunsheng to set up European manufacturing.
The goal: reduce shipping risks, avoid potential trade barriers, and ensure a steady supply—even if it costs a bit more.
Challenges on the Horizon: Trade Tensions and Competition
Geopolitical risks: The EU is investigating Chinese subsidies for rare earths, which could lead to tariffs or new trade rules.
Competitive pressures: Chinese wind turbine makers are undercutting European rivals, so Siemens Gamesa must balance resilience with cost.
Taking Action: Diversifying for a Stronger Future
Siemens Gamesa has already started diversifying, signing a deal with Japan’s TDK for some of its magnet needs.
The company is also working hard to recover from recent technical challenges and aims to be back in the black by 2026.
Siemens Gamesa’s push to localize magnet production could make Europe’s wind industry stronger and less dependent on imports—helping secure the future of clean energy across the continent.
Project & Mergers
1 . 🌊 🚩 Big Win for US Offshore Wind: Virginia Project Moves Forward
Dominion Energy’s huge Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project just got a green light from the courts, despite ongoing legal challenges. This 2.6 GW project, the largest in the US is now more than 60% built and is set to power around 660,000 homes when finished
What Happened?
A federal judge ruled that construction can continue due to sufficient safeguards for endangered marine life, despite an ongoing environmental lawsuit.
The Trump administration paused new offshore wind leases and announced a review of wind projects, but permitted projects like CVOW can proceed for now.
Why Does It Matter?
Industry Impact:
This ruling is good news for offshore wind projects that are already underway, but new projects face delays and uncertainty.Clean Energy Progress:
When finished, the CVOW project will be a major source of clean energy for Virginia and a big step for US renewables.
Feature | Details |
Capacity | 2.6 GW |
Location | 45 km off Virginia Beach |
Status | 60%+ complete; construction ongoing |
Legal Status | Construction allowed; lawsuit ongoing |
Expected Completion | 2026 |
Homes Powered | ~660,000 |
Federal Policy Context | New leasing paused; existing leases under review |
What’s Next?
Dominion will keep building, aiming to finish by 2026.
The rest of the US offshore wind industry is watching closely to see how future rules and court decisions will affect other projects.
The Virginia offshore wind project is moving ahead, but the future of new US offshore wind projects remains uncertain due to changing policies and ongoing legal battles.
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2. ⚡ Danish Offshore Wind Pioneer Gets 25-Year Life Extension
Denmark’s Horns Rev 1 offshore wind farm, one of the world’s oldest and most iconic, has just received approval to operate for another 25 years.
Project Details:
Location: North Sea, 14–20 km off Denmark’s west coast
Capacity: 160 MW from 80 Vestas turbines
Homes powered: About 150,000 Danish households
Original operational period: 2002–2027
New approved lifetime: Until 2050
Why This Matters
Horns Rev 1 was the world’s first large-scale offshore wind farm when it launched in 2002, setting the standard for the global industry.
The Danish Energy Agency has now given the green light for it to keep producing clean energy until 2050, doubling its original operational life.
This move is part of a broader trend: Denmark is reviewing and approving lifetime extensions for several of its oldest offshore wind farms, recognizing their ongoing value in the energy transition.
A Danish offshore wind icon is set to keep spinning for another quarter-century, reinforcing Denmark’s leadership in renewable energy and the long-term promise of offshore wind.
Technology & Innovation
1. ️ Build Your Own Solar Power Manager with F1ATB
A new open-source project lets you easily manage and use extra power from your solar panels at home.
What Is the F1ATB Solar Router?
Created by French engineer André Buhart, this DIY system helps you send surplus solar energy to devices like water heaters or batteries instead of back to the grid.
All instructions, software, and shopping lists are free and available online.
How Does It Work?
The system uses simple modules:
One measures your electricity use.
Others control where the extra solar power goes.
The modules talk to each other wirelessly, so you can place them anywhere in your home.
You’ll need basic parts like a Shelly module, ESP32 microcontroller, and some cables.
Step-by-step guides make it easy to put together, even for beginners.
How Much Does It Cost?
DIY Level | Cost Estimate |
Beginner (kit) | €100 (about $118) |
Experienced DIYer | €30 and up |
Save more: Use more of your own solar power and lower your energy bills.
Flexible: Add more modules as your needs grow.
Community help: Join thousands of users online for support and ideas.
If you want to get the most from your solar panels and enjoy a fun DIY project, the F1ATB solar router is an affordable and flexible solution.
Key Takeaways
Prices have stabilized, and Western players are holding firm—keeping new turbine prices high and finally seeing margins rise.
📈 All five of the region’s largest countries have already surpassed the EU’s 2030 renewable energy target seven years ahead of schedule!
Siemens Gamesa is in talks with top Chinese rare earth magnet suppliers to build factories right here in Europe.
🚀 Denmark’s Horns Rev 1 offshore wind farm, one of the world’s oldest and most iconic, has just received approval to operate for another 25 years.
💡🌞 DIY router system helps you send surplus solar energy to devices like water heaters or batteries instead of back to the grid.
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Thank you for staying informed with MUX Energy! Together, we’re shaping a greener future—one breakthrough at a time.
Warm regards,
The MUX Energy Team 🌱
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