The wind sector plans future growth

 IEC e-tech

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Standards and certification are the invisible framework behind the wind energy sector’s global expansion and its tech advances, despite current challenges.

The global renewables sector is growing at extraordinary speed with the IEA expecting capacity to double between now and 2030, increasing by 4 600 gigawatts (GW). At the same time, the entire renewables sector faces extraordinary challenges. Few industries embody this tension more clearly than wind energy, where technological breakthroughs, geopolitical disruption and economic strains are unfolding simultaneously. “The renewables sector is growing and faces challenges at the exact same time, and wind is the prime example,” says Jonathan Colby, Chair of IECRE, the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Renewable Energy Applications.

IECRE is one of the four IEC Conformity Assessment (CA) Systems, and was established a little more than ten years ago to help provide third party certification and testing services for all power plants producing, storing, or converting energy from wind, marine and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy. The CA system ensures that the essential quality and safety requirements in standards are met, and as a consequence, that a reliable performance can be expected from all these systems. For the wind sector, that means checking that the industry aligns with the IEC 61400 standards, developed by IEC TC 88, the technical committee which produces standards for wind energy systems.

Overcoming current challenges

One of the main challenges for the wind sector is a widening disconnect between costs and market expectations. “Supply chain challenges, tariffs and geopolitical instability have driven up manufacturing and project costs. At the same time, energy markets continue to push prices downward generally, squeezing margins for developers and manufacturers alike,” Colby explains.

The world's installed wind power capacity now meets well over 10% of global electricity demand - with onshore wind accounting for over 90% of that, according to figures from the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA). By 2030, capacity is expected to double to 2 terawatts (TW), according to this global leader for wind turbine maintenance and blade repair. However, there are factors leading the IEA and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) to revise their forecasts downwards. Earlier predictions were predicated on a rapid expansion of wind capacity offshore but trade tensions and shifting political priorities as well as international conflicts are creating volatility in a sector built on long-term, capital-intensive investments.

“People have invested huge amounts of money into offshore wind, and then policy shifts come in and really complicate projects,” Colby says. “These are high-capital, long-duration investments - you can’t just turn them on and off.” Such instability can undermine investor confidence which is essential in a sector where the projects require billions in upfront capital to complete.

However, despite these challenges, the market for wind energy is still growing. In 2025, according to this report by consulting firm Climate Central, the US still generated a record 853 210 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity from solar (46%) and wind (54%). The IEA has adjusted its outlook for China, reports global think tank Ember, though the country is still expected to account for around 61% of global operational offshore wind capacity by 2030.

China is leading the way

Chinese manufacturers are leading a rapid escalation in turbine size and capacity,  and announcing 25 to 30 MW turbine designs. Although ratings vary depending on load, wind speed and hours of operation, a single 30 MW turbine could power approximately 30 000 homes a year. One of China’s largest private wind turbine manufacturers has announced a plan to build a 50 MW floating turbine featuring a novel twin-head, V-shaped design.

Rotor diameters have also expanded dramatically, reaching up to 300 metres with blades of 150 m - roughly three times larger than many experts once considered feasible. Installing such massive structures requires specialized vessels and an installation infrastructure that are only just beginning to emerge. For example, Dutch and Chinese companies, among others, have recently launched vessels capable of supporting offshore wind turbines with capacities of more than 20 MW. “Imagine the size of the crane and barge you need to deploy a 50 MW turbine offshore. In some cases, those vessels are under development or don’t exist yet,” Colby comments.

Floating wind: the next frontier

While onshore wind still has room to grow - particularly in regions like China’s Gobi Desert - many countries are approaching saturation due to land constraints, planning challenges and public opposition. In addition, turbine sizes have outgrown onshore logistical limits. You can’t transport a 150 metre blade on land. Offshore, it’s easier to build by the coast and tow it out. “The potential of onshore wind isn’t completely exhausted but the industry is moving decisively offshore,” says Colby.

For offshore wind, fixed-bottom turbines remain the most cost-effective option in shallow waters. But as these sites become congested, developers are moving into deeper waters where floating systems are essential. “Floating is your only option in deeper water - and deeper water has the potential to unlock higher energy yields,” Colby adds.

Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) can be deployed further from the shore, making them less visible to nearby dwellers - an added bonus. “The future of wind energy is going to include large floating wind turbines in certain markets where near-shore water depths don’t allow for fixed-bottom turbines,” says Colby.  

Revenue mechanisms like the UK’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) are also driving offshore growth. A new financial allocation round is coming in July with major funding for floating and fixed‑bottom offshore wind. Globally, new offshore projects are announced almost daily with schemes in Greece, the Baltics, Scandinavia, Spain, Chile, Japan and Korea all detailed in the last few months alone.

Innovations for end-of-life management

While turbine size still dominates the headlines, innovation is happening across multiple fronts. One of the most pressing challenges concerns what to do with turbine blades at the end of their life.

New materials, particularly thermoplastic composites (which can be melted down to extract reusable resin), which can be can be recycled rather than discarded are now more widely used in turbine blades. At the same time, developers are looking to extend turbine lifespans beyond their original design limits.

Standards and conformity assessment work hand in hand

Lifecycle assessment, reusability, and recyclability are areas of interest to TC 88 and IECRE. The latter is about to launch new schemes, one of which is asset management of large projects and the other through-life management and recycling. TC 88 has developed a new technical specification for that, IEC 61400-28.

Elsewhere, engineers are experimenting with new construction approaches, from modular towers assembled offshore to the reintroduction of wood as a structural material. Floating wind, meanwhile, is driving innovation in subsea systems. “You’ve got cables that are moving constantly - there’s nothing to clamp them to, as in fixed systems,” Colby says. “Developing dynamic cables and reliable underwater connectors is critical to making floating systems viable at scale and the IEC is developing the standards for that.”

As technology evolves, the frameworks that underpin the wind sector are under increasing pressure to keep pace. In this environment, standards and certification are becoming central - not just to ensure the safety and performance of wind energy systems, but also to reassure investors and regulators.

IEC TC 88 has just published the first international standard for floating wind design. IEC 61400-3-2 outlines essential design and safety requirements for FOWTs, ensuring their engineering integrity and protection against various hazards during their planned lifetime. The standard is crucial for the safe and efficient deployment of floating wind structures, addressing design scenarios and load cases to meet global industry needs.

Historically, standards in renewables have focused on individual components - ensuring that turbines, blades and electrical systems meet defined specifications. Increasingly, however, the industry is shifting toward a more holistic approach.

“ The newest IECRE wind energy deliverable is project certification, which is just starting to take off - and I think it’s going to be very important, especially for the offshore sector,” Colby explains. Project certification expands the scope from individual components to entire systems, covering everything from design and construction to installation and maintenance and site-specific considerations. This reflects the complexity of offshore wind, where risk arises not just from equipment failure but from how systems interact in challenging marine environments.

In this context, certification becomes a critical tool for reducing uncertainty. “It’s going to reduce risk, increase quality, and help guarantee performance - which in turn drives insurance costs down and brings investors to the table,” Colby says. The financial implications are significant. Even small increases in perceived risk can deter investment in projects of this scale. “Any volatility or uncertainty, and investors start to pull back immediately,” Colby warns.

Still early days for hybrid systems

Hybrid renewable systems using combinations of wind, solar, wave and hydrogen, are widely discussed but commercial rollout is slow. Wave energy projects, in particular, are still at a trial stage, making developers cautious about integration.

“It is a little avant-garde at the moment to talk about hybrid systems,” Colby says. “The problem is that wave systems exhibit a lower TRL (Technology Readiness Level) for marginal MW output. There's a lot of reasons why a hybrid system makes sense, but the wave community needs to show thousands of operational hours of reliability and real strong performance before major wind owners are going to take on the risk of integrating wave components into their billion-dollar offshore windfarms.”

More promising are integrated systems designed from the outset to combine technologies, as well as offshore wind paired with hydrogen storage. One project is being installed off the coast of Grand Canaria comprising a 4,3 MW wind turbine and a hydrogen system comprising an electrolyzer, hydrogen energy storage, a fuel cell and battery system.

Offshore floating photovoltaic (OFPV) is likely to integrate more quickly with offshore wind since floating PV, first introduced on land-based environments like reservoirs, is a proven technology. (For more on floating solar tech, read: The bright future for floating solar tech | IEC e-tech). The outlook for the wind energy sector in years to come is therefore full of promise despite short-term challenges.