• Vestas will double output at its Goleniow, Poland blade plant to meet rising European demand, adding a second line for its V172-7.2 MW turbine and hiring more than 300 workers.
• The expansion is driven primarily by Germany’s accelerating onshore market, which installed 2.2 GW in the first half of 2025 and is on track for 5.1 GW this year.
• The move strengthens Europe’s turbine manufacturing base as governments seek greater energy security, local supply chain resilience, and faster delivery of renewable capacity.

Europe’s Rising Wind Demand Drives New Manufacturing Buildout

Vestas is doubling production capacity at its Goleniow blade factory as demand across Europe tightens supply chains for modern onshore turbines and pushes manufacturers to expand quickly. The Danish turbine maker confirmed late Monday that the plant will add a second production line dedicated to blades for its V172-7.2 MW platform and will employ more than 300 additional workers.

The decision reflects a broader shift in Europe’s wind sector, where project pipelines are recovering after years of policy uncertainty. A Vestas spokesperson told Reuters the new line will “mainly serve the growing German market,” which has rapidly become Europe’s most active onshore wind territory.

The Goleniow facility, taken over from LM Wind Power in September, is now a central node in Vestas’ European production footprint. The company operates 10 plants across the region and employs roughly 2,300 people in Poland alone.

Germany’s Surge Reshapes Europe’s Onshore Market

Germany installed 2.2 GW of new onshore wind capacity in the first half of 2025, a 67 percent increase from the same period last year, according to WindEurope. The industry group expects the country to reach 5.1 GW by year-end, consolidating its position as Europe’s largest onshore market.

Developers attribute Germany’s acceleration to permitting reforms, stronger federal-state coordination, and stable auction schedules. These improvements have created a rare period of predictability for OEMs, pushing firms like Vestas to expand ahead of grid connection demand.

For C-suite executives and investors, the scale of Germany’s rebound matters. Large turbine platforms such as the V172-7.2 MW require longer lead times, oversized transport logistics, and specialised blade fabrication. Without expanded regional production, developers risk project delays at a time when Europe’s climate and energy security targets depend on rapid deployment.

Strengthening Europe’s Wind Supply Chain

For the EU, Vestas’ expansion adds to a series of moves aimed at rebalancing wind supply chains that have been stressed by inflation, material shortages, and aggressive pricing pressure from Asian competitors. Policymakers in Brussels have pushed for more local manufacturing after several OEMs faced losses, project cancellations, or component bottlenecks in recent years.

The Goleniow buildout aligns with this policy direction. By producing large-scale blades in Europe rather than importing them, manufacturers reduce transportation risk and cut lead times for markets with accelerated auction volumes.

Vestas’ decision also signals confidence that Europe’s policy environment is stabilising. While some markets continue to face grid congestion and permitting backlogs, the overall trajectory favours larger annual installations, particularly in Germany, France, Poland, and the Nordics.

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Workforce Expansion and Regional Benefits

The company plans to hire more than 300 workers as part of the Goleniow expansion, adding manufacturing and technical jobs to a region that has become an anchor for turbine component production. Poland has emerged as one of Europe’s most competitive manufacturing bases for wind equipment due to labour expertise, proximity to key markets, and supportive industrial policy.

The V172-7.2 MW turbine is central to Vestas’ onshore strategy. Its large rotor diameter and improved energy capture allow utilities and developers to secure higher output on constrained sites, a key advantage in regions where available land is shrinking and wind projects must achieve higher efficiency.

Industry Implications for Executives and Investors

For developers, OEMs, and financiers assessing Europe’s renewable buildout, the expansion offers several takeaways:

• Manufacturing capacity is becoming a strategic bottleneck. OEM decisions today will shape turbine availability for 2026–2028 auction rounds.
• Germany’s policy stability is altering regional demand patterns, pulling supply chain investment eastward.
• Blade production remains one of the most logistically sensitive components of the wind value chain, and localisation is emerging as a competitive advantage.

A Broader Shift in Europe’s Energy Transition

The Goleniow expansion feeds into Europe’s wider effort to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels while strengthening domestic industrial capabilities. As wind installations scale and electrification deepens, turbine supply chain resilience becomes inseparable from national energy security strategies.

Vestas’ move reflects both commercial demand and broader political stakes: Europe’s ability to meet its climate goals hinges not only on auction volumes but on ensuring that manufacturing capacity grows in parallel. The decision in Poland is one of the clearest signs yet that OEMs are preparing for a sustained period of high onshore deployment across the continent.

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