Global Wind Energy News – September 2026
Wind energy continued to expand across global power markets during September 2026, with major offshore and onshore projects reaching construction, installation, financing, and operational milestones. Large wind energy systems in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States demonstrated the growing contribution of wind power to global renewable energy generation.
September also brought significant developments across the wind energy industry, including offshore wind deployment, turbine manufacturing, project investment, and new engineering technologies. Advances in larger wind turbines, foundations, installation methods, grid integration, and digital technologies are continuing to improve the performance and development of wind turbine systems worldwide.
This monthly wind energy update focuses on selected developments from September 2026 rather than attempting to cover every published headline. ECAICO highlights significant wind projects, markets and industry developments, and wind turbine technology, with emphasis on news that provides practical and technical value to engineers, energy professionals, and readers following the global wind energy sector.
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| Global wind energy developments and technology highlights – September 2026. |
Wind Projects and Global Deployment
September 2026 brought major progress in wind energy deployment across offshore and onshore markets. Large wind farms reached commissioning, construction, turbine installation, and development milestones, with particularly strong activity in offshore wind across Asia, Europe, and the United States, alongside important new projects in Africa.
1. China Fully Commissions 2 GW Yangjiang Fanshi Offshore Wind Project
China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) fully commissioned the 2 GW Yangjiang Fanshi offshore wind project in Guangdong. The development comprises two 1 GW wind farms and includes 131 wind turbines, including 33 offshore turbines rated at 18 MW.
The 18 MW turbines feature a 292 m rotor diameter, while the project also uses a 500 kV intermediate reactive power compensation station to support long-distance offshore grid transmission. Yangjiang Fanshi is expected to supply more than 6.6 TWh of electricity to the grid annually.
2. Germany Inaugurates 960 MW He Dreiht Offshore Wind Farm
EnBW and its partners inaugurated the 960 MW He Dreiht offshore wind farm in the German North Sea. With 64 Vestas V236-15.0 MW turbines, He Dreiht is currently Germany's largest offshore wind farm by installed capacity.
Each turbine has a rated capacity of 15 MW and a rotor diameter of 236 m. The project represents an investment of approximately €2.4 billion and is expected to generate enough electricity to cover the equivalent annual consumption of around 1.1 million households, with full commissioning expected in the coming months.
3. Borkum Riffgrund 3 Offshore Wind Farm Inaugurated in Germany
Ørsted and Nuveen Infrastructure officially inaugurated the 913 MW Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm in the German North Sea. Located approximately 72 km from the German coast, the project consists of 83 Siemens Gamesa 11 MW wind turbines.
The wind farm can generate enough renewable electricity to cover the annual consumption of close to one million households. Borkum Riffgrund 3 had already entered commercial operation before its September inauguration, making the month's event the project's official opening rather than its first operation.
4. All 65 Turbines Installed at 704 MW Revolution Wind
The 704 MW Revolution Wind offshore project reached a major construction milestone in September with the installation of its 65th and final wind turbine. Located off the northeastern United States, the project will supply electricity to Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Revolution Wind had already begun delivering electricity earlier in 2026, while installation of the final turbine completed the project's turbine construction campaign. The wind farm is expected to reach full commercial operation later in 2026.
5. Construction Starts at 795 MW OranjeWind Offshore Wind Farm
The 795 MW OranjeWind offshore wind project in the Netherlands entered a major construction phase with installation of its first monopile foundation. Developed by RWE and TotalEnergies, the project will use 53 wind turbines and is located approximately 53 km from the Dutch coast.
OranjeWind uses transition piece-less monopile foundations, allowing the turbines to be connected directly to the top flange of each monopile and reducing the amount of steel required. Each monopile is approximately 90 m long and 8 m in diameter, with full commissioning of the wind farm expected in 2028.
6. Egypt Signs PPA for 1 GW Ras Shokeir Wind Project
Infinity Power and Hassan Allam Utilities Energy signed a power purchase agreement with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company for the planned 1 GW Ras Shokeir wind project in Egypt's Red Sea Governorate. The project will occupy approximately 143 km² within the Gulf of Suez wind corridor.
Once operational, Ras Shokeir is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to supply the equivalent of more than 1.2 million Egyptian homes. The project represents another major expansion of large-scale wind development along one of Egypt's strongest wind-resource corridors.
7. Sturdee Energy Acquires 200 MW Wind Project in Zambia
Sturdee Energy entered the Zambian electricity market through the acquisition of the 200 MW Masaiti wind project in the Copperbelt Province. The project is at an advanced stage of development and is planned to connect directly to the national grid through a nearby 330 kV ZESCO transmission line.
More than six years of on-site wind measurements have already been collected to characterize the project's wind resource. Sturdee Energy plans to advance Masaiti toward financial close and is also considering integration with solar PV and battery energy storage to provide a more consistent renewable power supply.
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| September 2026 wind deployment highlights include major offshore and onshore projects across China, Germany, the United States, and Egypt. |
Wind Markets, Manufacturing and Industry
Wind industry activity remained strong during September 2026, with new market data showing continued capacity growth in Europe alongside major turbine orders and changes affecting offshore wind development. Manufacturers also reported significant order activity as the industry continued expanding production and deployment of larger wind turbine platforms.
1. Europe Adds 8.8 GW of Wind Capacity as Turbine Orders Reach 10.6 GW
Europe installed 8.8 GW of new wind power capacity during the first half of 2026, representing a 30% increase compared with the same period in 2025. Of the new capacity, 6.5 GW was onshore and 2.3 GW was offshore, bringing Europe's total installed wind capacity to more than 311 GW.
WindEurope also reported 10.6 GW of firm wind turbine orders during the first half of the year, including 7.8 GW of onshore turbines and 2.8 GW offshore. However, total turbine orders were 12% lower than in the first half of 2025, highlighting the mixed conditions within the European wind market.
2. Vestas Secures 614 MW of New Wind Turbine Orders in Australia
Vestas announced new Australian wind turbine orders totaling 614 MW at the end of September. The orders formed part of a series of contracts announced by the manufacturer during the final days of the third quarter across several international wind markets.
The Australian orders contributed to approximately 2.75 GW of publicly announced Vestas orders during Q3 2026, alongside projects in Germany, Italy, Romania, Japan, Vietnam and other markets. The activity reflects continued demand for utility-scale onshore wind turbines across geographically diverse markets.
3. Nordex Secures 175 MW of Wind Turbine Orders Across Europe
Nordex Group secured orders totaling 175 MW for wind projects in France, Portugal and Spain. The contracts cover the supply and installation of 34 wind turbines across five different Nordex turbine configurations.
The orders also include multi-year service agreements designed to support long-term turbine availability and energy production. The combination of several turbine models across multiple European markets illustrates the continued role of flexible turbine platforms in matching different wind conditions and project requirements.
4. Germany Approves Draft Reform of Offshore Wind Development Framework
The German government approved a draft amendment to the country's Offshore Wind Energy Act in September, proposing changes intended to improve investment certainty, cost efficiency and industrial resilience as Germany continues expanding offshore wind capacity.
The proposed framework includes a two-stage auction model, the possibility of oversizing offshore grid connections by up to 20%, and an increase in the standard operating period from 25 to 35 years. The draft maintains Germany's offshore wind expansion targets while seeking a more consistent development pathway averaging around 3 GW annually. The proposals must still proceed through the legislative process before becoming law.
5. Vestas V236-15.0 MW Platform Reaches 200 Offshore Installations
Vestas reached an important manufacturing and deployment milestone in September with the installation of the 200th V236-15.0 MW offshore wind turbine. The milestone was achieved during turbine installation at the Ecowende offshore wind project in the Netherlands.
With 200 units installed offshore, the V236 platform reached approximately 3 GW of installed offshore capacity. The milestone demonstrates the growing industrial deployment of 15 MW-class wind turbines as developers increasingly use larger turbine platforms to increase project capacity while limiting the number of individual turbine positions.
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| September 2026 wind industry highlights include European capacity growth, major turbine orders, manufacturing activity, and proposed offshore wind reforms in Germany. |
Wind Turbine Technology and Innovation
September 2026 brought important advances in wind turbine technology, ranging from new high-capacity onshore turbines to experimental research platforms and next-generation floating wind concepts. Developments focused on larger rotors, higher energy production, improved aerodynamic testing, and new offshore structures capable of supporting increasingly powerful wind turbines.
1. Vestas Introduces New V182-7.2 MW Wind Turbine
Vestas introduced the V182-7.2 MW, the latest development of its EnVentus onshore turbine platform. The turbine combines a 7.2 MW rating with a 182 m rotor diameter and 26,016 m² swept area, delivering 4–6% higher annual energy production than the V172-7.2 MW depending on site conditions. The larger rotor-to-rating ratio is designed to improve energy capture, particularly at lower wind speeds, and Vestas secured the turbine's first order in Sweden shortly after its launch.
2. Nordex Expands Delta4000 Platform with N193/7.X Turbine
Nordex introduced the N193/7.X, extending its Delta4000 turbine platform with a 193 m rotor and 95 m blades. The first configuration will provide approximately 7.3 MW of rated power, while Nordex expects the larger rotor to increase energy yield by up to 14% compared with the N175/6.X at typical low-to-medium-wind sites.
3. DLR Completes Modular OPUS 3 Wind Research Turbine
The German Aerospace Center completed installation of its OPUS 3 modular research turbine at the WiValdi wind energy research park in Germany. Unlike a conventional commercial turbine, OPUS 3 was specifically designed to allow components, technologies, and control strategies to be tested under real operating conditions, providing an intermediate research platform between laboratory simulations and full-scale industrial wind turbines.
4. Pressurized Wind-Tunnel Research Improves Full-Scale Turbine Testing
Researchers from MIT, Princeton University, Queen's University, and Penn State University demonstrated a method using a highly pressurized wind tunnel to reproduce important aerodynamic conditions experienced by full-scale wind turbines. Tests showed that adjusting turbine tip-speed ratio according to yaw misalignment could improve power production, providing new opportunities for developing and validating advanced wind turbine control strategies.
5. Gazelle Tests Floating Platform for 18 MW+ Wind Turbines
Gazelle Wind Power developed and tested a new floating offshore wind platform for turbines rated at 18 MW and above. Simulations evaluated the platform under severe wind, wave, and current conditions at a typhoon-prone site, including extreme wind speeds and significant wave heights. The concept uses articulated mooring structures and a central counterweight to control platform motion while supporting very large offshore turbines.
6. 1.2 MW Counter-Rotating Floating Wind Turbine Moves Toward Demonstration
Norwegian technology company World Wide Wind and Taiwan's Metal Industries Research & Development Center advanced plans for a 1.2 MW demonstration unit of the CRAFT floating wind turbine. Unlike conventional horizontal-axis turbines, the concept uses two vertical-axis rotors rotating in opposite directions on a floating structure, with the demonstration intended to test construction, installation, operation, and performance under real offshore conditions.
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| September 2026 highlights in wind turbine technology and innovation. |
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Summary
September 2026 was an active month for the global wind energy sector, with major offshore and onshore projects reaching important development, construction, installation, and operational milestones. Significant developments included the 2 GW Yangjiang Fanshi project in China, major offshore wind farms in Germany and the United States, and new wind projects advancing in Egypt and Zambia.
The month also brought important developments in wind markets and industry. European wind capacity continued to grow, major turbine manufacturers secured new orders, and Germany proposed changes to its offshore wind development framework. These developments reflect the continuing expansion of wind power alongside the manufacturing and infrastructure required to support larger projects.
At the technology level, new turbine platforms from Vestas and Nordex, advanced wind-energy research, and emerging floating offshore wind technologies demonstrated how the industry continues to pursue higher energy production, larger rotor systems, improved turbine control, and new solutions for challenging offshore environments.
FAQs
Q1: What were the major wind energy developments in September 2026?
A1: September 2026 included major offshore and onshore wind developments worldwide, including the commissioning of China's 2 GW Yangjiang Fanshi offshore wind project, milestones at major European and U.S. offshore wind farms, new turbine orders, and advances in wind turbine and floating offshore technology.
Q2: What new wind turbines were introduced in September 2026?
A2: Vestas introduced the V182-7.2 MW turbine with a 182 m rotor, while Nordex launched the N193/7.X platform with a 193 m rotor and an initial rated power of approximately 7.3 MW. Both designs use larger rotors to increase energy production, particularly at low-to-medium wind sites.
Q3: What were the main offshore wind developments in September 2026?
A3: Major offshore developments included China's 2 GW Yangjiang Fanshi project, Germany's He Dreiht and Borkum Riffgrund 3 wind farms, completion of turbine installation at Revolution Wind in the United States, and the start of offshore construction at OranjeWind in the Netherlands.
Q4: What technologies are shaping the future of wind energy?
A4: Current wind energy innovation includes larger turbine rotors, advanced turbine control and aerodynamic research, modular research turbines, and floating offshore platforms designed for increasingly powerful wind turbines. These technologies aim to improve energy production and expand wind development into more challenging locations.