In 2024, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has emerged as the leader in Germany's wind energy sector, with 117 new installations becoming operational.

Following NRW, Niedersachsen and Schleswig-Holstein have also made significant contributions, with 87 and 85 new installations respectively.

Nationwide, Germany has approved around 1,900 wind energy installations with a total capacity of 10,930 MW during the first ten months of 2024, marking the strongest year for wind energy approvals in the country's history.

These approvals have enabled NRW to set a new record for wind energy installations in a federal state, surpassing Niedersachsen's previous record of 2,665 MW approved in 2016.

The data on wind energy installations was provided by the Fachagentur Wind und Solar, a non-profit organization established in 2013, which includes various stakeholders such as the federal government, states, and environmental organizations.

Hans-Josef Vogel, chairman of LEE NRW, highlighted the positive economic impact of wind energy and its essential role in achieving climate goals during these uncertain times.

The district of Höxter recorded the highest number of approvals, with 100 installations totaling 641 MW.

In addition, the Siegen-Wittgenstein district received approvals for 65 installations, contributing 423 MW, while the Borken district had 57 installations approved, totaling 358 MW.

As of the end of October 2024, Germany boasts approximately 28,647 onshore wind turbines, with Niedersachsen, Brandenburg, and NRW leading in numbers.