Opinion piece by Head of Division Kenneth Thomsen, DTU, and Head of Department Erik Miranda, Vestas, on behalf of DAFRE. Published in Energy Supply on 29.10.2026
People sometimes ask whether we are soon done with the development of wind turbine technologies? "How much more is there to gain after so many years?" they ask.
The answer is that we are far from done developing and advancing our knowledge of wind turbine technology.
This is about more than jobs and exports. As wind power becomes an increasingly important part of our energy supply, Europe also needs to retain control of the technologies on which our energy system is built.
We have a strong starting point. But if we are to build on it, we must stand together and continue investing in the knowledge and technologies that have brought us this far.
Three key areas for action
This is why we in the Danish Alliance for Renewables (DAFRE), a collaboration between universities and the wind industry, have identified three areas where we must take action to ensure Europe's continued strong position in wind technology.
First, we need to reduce risks. Investors need to be able to predict how much electricity a turbine will generate, how often it will require maintenance, and what it will cost over its lifetime. We must therefore improve the way we design turbines, test them digitally and put them through physical tests, so faults are detected earlier and development times are shortened. This requires both better modelling tools and strong testing facilities where new turbines and components can be tested under realistic conditions.
Second, wind turbines in the future need to be more intelligent. They should not simply generate as much electricity as possible but also be able to respond to what is happening in the energy system and help keep the power grid stable and flexible, preventing imbalances and, in the worst case, power outages.
The larger the share of our electricity that comes from wind and solar, the more important it becomes for wind turbines to respond to changes in the energy system and help maintain the balance – including when the wind is not blowing. This requires continued research into how turbines are controlled and how they interact with the rest of the grid. Denmark already has extensive experience in this area, as wind power has accounted for a large share of our electricity supply for many years.
Third, we need to bring the entire value chain on board. This is an area where we have an important strength. In Denmark and across Europe, manufacturers, suppliers, energy companies and research institutions work closely together. This makes it possible to optimize not only the wind turbine itself, but the entire process from materials and production to installation, operation, servicing, and, ultimately, decommissioning.
There is considerable potential for increased digitalization, better use of data and smarter maintenance, and enabling turbines to operate more efficiently throughout their lifetime. We need to make use of and strengthen this collaboration.
So, we are far from done with wind turbines. Quite the opposite. Europe both needs and has the potential to remain a leader in wind technology. But that requires us to keep believing in it and investing in it.
