Invisible energy: how wind is redrawing the energy map

Wind is one of the oldest energy resources and has been harnessed by humans for centuries. From sail boats to medieval windmills, its power has been a driving force in societal development. Today, in the midst of the global energy transition, this natural force is now becoming one of the pillars of the new electricity system.
In Europe, wind power has long been a structural component of the energy mix, with onshore turbines across the region and increasingly extensive offshore wind farms in the open ocean. The sector is growing not only in terms of installed capacity, but also in technological innovation, from the huge turbines in the North Sea to airborne wind farms that harness stronger, more consistent winds hundreds of metres above the Earth’s surface. Underpinning this development are the transmission grids, which represent essential infrastructure for the wind power revolution.

The North Sea: Europe's new green power station. In the global wind energy landscape, the North Sea is now the most advanced testing ground. Its weather conditions – strong, steady winds, relatively shallow waters and proximity to major European consumer centres – make it one of the most favourable locations in the world for the development of offshore wind power.
Today, the region has over 30 gigawatts of operational wind power capacity, but the European target is much more ambitious. Europe's coastal countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and France, have entered into an precedented energy partnership to transform the North Sea into a veritable continental “green power station”.

The plan aims to reach 120 GW by 2030 and up to 300 GW by 2050, with a production level that could power hundreds of millions of European residents and make a decisive contribution to decarbonising the energy system.
The scale of the new offshore wind farms is impressive: individual turbines can exceed 10 megawatts in capacity, while entire farms cover tens of square kilometres of sea, transforming vast marine areas into veritable energy hubs.
This expansion represents not only a technological or environmental advance, but also a strategic and geopolitical project: following the energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine, Europe has accelerated its renewables programme to strengthen its energy independence.

Wind energy from the sea. Offshore wind turbines represent the most advanced innovation in wind energy. Far from the mainland, where the wind is less affected by natural or urban obstacles, air currents are more consistent and stronger, enabling more stable energy production.
Offshore turbines work on the exact same principle as onshore turbines: the rotor captures the wind's kinetic energy, transforming it into mechanical energy that is then converted by a generator into electricity. The main differences are scale and the operating conditions.
The new turbines can reach over 250 metres in height, with blades over 100 metres long. Installing them requires complex infrastructure: foundations anchored into the seabed, floating platforms in deep water, and high-voltage undersea cables to carry the energy to the mainland.

Airborne wind power: harnessing high-altitude winds. Airborne wind energy uses automated aircraft such as kites, gliders or drones that are tethered to the ground by cables. As they fly, these devices harness the power of the wind to generate electricity.
The principle is simple but revolutionary: at altitudes of 300-600 metres and above, air currents are generally much stronger and more consistent compared those closer to ground-level. These systems can therefore produce more energy using much more lightweight structures than traditional turbines.

The potential benefits are significant: lower installation costs, lower impact on the landscape, and the possibility to produce energy in places where conventional turbines aren’t viable. Advanced sensors, automatic control systems and AI algorithms allow the airborne devices to maintain the optimum trajectories needed to maximise energy production.
However, the technology is still in its pilot phase, with the main challenges concerning flight safety, the reliability of the control systems, and integration with existing electricity infrastructure.

The central role of electricity grids. The energy generated by offshore wind turbines in the North Sea is transported via undersea cables to the energy hubs and high-voltage transmission grids that connect various European countries. Essentially, the goal is to build an interconnected offshore electricity grid able to efficiently distribute renewable energy to and between European nations.
In this context, transmission grids are an essential and strategic component of the energy transition. Without the right infrastructure (high-voltage power lines, international interconnections, digital energy flow management systems), the energy produced through renewables risks going to waste.

Wind power: from production to management. Wind power presents one important characteristic: its production varies according to the weather conditions. Consequently, its integration into the electricity system requires the sophisticated management of energy flows. Transmission grid operators play an essential role in guaranteeing the right balance between energy production and demand. Thanks to real-time monitoring systems, forecasting models and increasingly interconnected transmission infrastructure, grids can integrate growing amounts of renewable energy while maintaining the stability of the electricity system. Going forward, the development of offshore wind power and new wind technologies will require increasingly flexible and digitalised systems. From the North Sea to future high-altitude technologies, wind energy is set to become one of the supporting pillars of Europe’s energy system.