EU sold wind turbines worth 3.1 billion euros in 2025, and the story flips with solar panels: nearly all imports come from China

In 2025, the European Union sold wind turbines to the rest of the world for 3.1 billion euros, a 10.8% increase over the previous year, according to data released by Eurostat on October 20. The picture changes dramatically when it comes to solar panels. The 27 member states spent 8 billion euros on imports, with China accounting for 98.6% of those purchases.

In other words, Europe still manufactures and exports wind technology. But for solar? Nearly all the panels entering the EU in 2025 came from Chinese factories, meaning the module installed this winter on a rooftop in Seville or Valladolid was likely made in China.

European turbines bound for the UK

Eurostat analyzes three groups of green products (wind turbines, solar panels, and liquid biofuels). Wind power is the EU’s largest export category. In addition to the increase in value, the volume sold also rose by 9.5%, indicating that the rise is not solely due to higher machine prices.

The largest buyer was the United Kingdom, which accounted for 31% of these sales. Following it were the United States (24%), Taiwan (12%), and Turkey (11%). This is detailed in Eurostat’s analysis of trade in green energy products.

Purchases of turbines manufactured outside the EU, by contrast, remained at 700 million euros. The difference stands at approximately 2.4 billion euros in favor of Europe. And in the midst of the debate over the green industry, that is no small amount.

Cheap panels, almost all of them Chinese

The opposite is true for photovoltaic modules, as imports fell 27.7% in value to 8 billion euros, while volume decreased by only 4.0%. According to Eurostat, this suggests that the average price of each imported panel declined.

China was "by far the largest supplier" of solar panels, according to the statistical office. For those considering installing rooftop panels to reduce electricity bills, the question is inevitable: where does each module on the roof come from?

European solar panel exports totaled just 500 million euros, a 23.6% decrease. However, volume increased by 2.6%. Meanwhile, Chinese scientists have already proposed covering entire building facades with solar panels.

China gains ground in wind

Even the wind sector is not entirely immune, as wind turbine imports rose by 40.6% in value. In volume, the increase was 69.0%. These figures remain low compared to Europe’s exports, but the trend is evident.

China accounted for 59.6% of wind turbine imports, up from 41.3% in 2024. India, which previously topped the list, fell to second place with 22.2%. In Spain, wind farms such as the one in Casares are being upgraded, with 38 fewer turbines but double the energy output.

115-meter blades in Aalborg

Much of that industrial capacity is located in northern Europe. Siemens Gamesa manufactures 115-meter blades in Aalborg (Denmark) and Le Havre (France), and assembles the nacelles in Cuxhaven (Germany). The nacelle is the large housing containing the turbine’s machinery, according to the European agency CINEA in its project profile for NEMO.

Each of those blades is “longer than a football field,” the agency summarizes. They are for the SG 14-236 offshore turbine, rated at 14 megawatts, which can reach 15 megawatts in a boost mode. The EU Innovation Fund contributes 69.8 million euros to the project, whose three factories were ready by April 30, 2026.

Sales with no known destination

However, these figures come with fine print, as Eurostat reports in euros and volume, not megawatts, making it impossible to determine the actual power capacity traded. Which European countries sell the most turbines? The report does not specify.

According to the statistical office, 14% of turbine imports are not assigned to a specific country due to confidentiality. The same applies to 12% of exports. Biofuels, the third product category, saw purchases drop to 2.7 billion euros and sales to 1 billion euros.

By the numbers, the EU purchased 11.4 billion euros worth of green energy products from abroad and sold 4.6 billion euros worth. Turbines help somewhat, but for now, solar panels continue to come from China. The report was published on Eurostat’s website under the title “EU trade in wind turbines increased in 2025.”