Denmark builds almost no onshore wind turbines despite high demand for cheap energy

Denmark has installed just 21 onshore wind turbines in the past three years, with a net capacity increase of only 38.4 MW, according to a report by Danish broadcaster DR. Industry leaders warn the slow pace threatens the country’s green energy transition and leaves it vulnerable to volatile fossil fuel markets.

“We are world leaders in wind turbine production, we have near-constant wind, and we need cheap green energy more than ever—but almost nothing is happening,” said Camilla Holbech, director of renewable energy production at Green Power Denmark, the industry association behind the annual energy barometer.

In 2025 alone, only eight onshore turbines were erected. The stagnation comes despite Europe’s surging demand for affordable, sustainable energy—amplified by geopolitical tensions, including the war in the Middle East.

Political hurdles and grid access
Joachim Steenstrup, strategy director at Eurowind Energy—responsible for most of Denmark’s recent onshore installations—points to two key obstacles: protracted political approval processes and severe limitations in grid capacity. “We’ve felt this for years,” he told DR’s P1 Morgen radio program.

While offshore wind farms receive substantial state subsidies, onshore projects do not—a disparity Steenstrup calls a major disincentive. “It’s hard to compete when offshore gets support and we don’t,” he said. Offshore wind is also 35–40% more expensive per turbine than onshore, yet Denmark’s current energy strategy prioritizes large offshore parks, which won’t deliver power until 2032 or 2033.

Calls for policy shifts
Steenstrup urged reforms to streamline permitting, reduce grid connection costs, or introduce subsidies for onshore wind—similar to offshore support. “Otherwise, we’ll keep relying on Trump, Putin, and Qatar” for energy, he warned.

Martin Lidegaard, leader of the Radikale Venstre party, acknowledged the urgency but stopped short of endorsing onshore subsidies. “We need to phase out oil and gas as fast as possible,” he said, emphasizing cost efficiency. “Onshore wind is significantly cheaper, but we must weigh all options carefully.”

In January, 10 European countries signed a declaration to offer price guarantees for offshore wind developers—a move Steenstrup argues distorts the market further. Without faster onshore expansion, Denmark risks missing its 2030 renewable energy targets, of which only 7% has been achieved so far.