Against the backdrop of the rise of Chinese wind turbine OEMs, competition within the global wind power sector has intensified. Coupled with a softer stance from the European Union on merger and acquisition oversight, leading European wind turbine manufacturers are actively exploring opportunities for mergers and in-depth integration.
According to the Financial Times, major European OEMs are evaluating mergers and other forms of consolidation with the aim of forming larger industrial groups to better counter the rapid expansion of competitors.
José Manuel Entrecanales, Chief Executive Officer of Spanish infrastructure giant Acciona, voiced strong confidence in Europe’s industrial foundation in an interview with the Financial Times. Acciona is the largest shareholder of European turbine maker Nordex, which ranked as the top supplier for onshore wind installations across Europe in 2025.
“Scale is a key factor,” Entrecanales stressed. “Wind power represents a critical opportunity among many we face. We believe industrial consolidation is the only way to close the existing scale gap.”
Henrik Andersen, CEO of global wind power leader Vestas, echoed this view. Andersen stated that he fully supports Entrecanales’ vision of creating “European champion companies”, while noting that competition rules need to keep pace with the times.
“For the ambition of building global champions to be realized, support in the form of exemptions or new legislation will be necessary,” he commented. Using a vivid metaphor, he added: “If someone invites me to dance, I would be happy to accept. But we need a different tune.”
Notably, shifts in the regulatory environment have brought new prospects for this potential wave of consolidation. In April this year, the EU released updated merger guidelines. Compared with previous frameworks, the new rules place greater emphasis on economies of scale within the single market, innovation capacity and supply chain resilience when assessing transactions.
This policy shift is widely viewed by the industry as creating much-needed room for European companies to grow stronger through mergers and acquisitions.
