Logistics strain Germany’s onshore wind boom

Germany’s onshore wind sector is entering a construction boom, with turbine makers holding substantial order backlogs and sufficient factory capacity, but transport and permitting constraints are emerging as critical bottlenecks. The country authorised a record 20.8 gigawatts of onshore wind projects in 2025, and manufacturers are gearing up to supply the required equipment.

Nordex has already secured orders that cover its planned German installations for 2027, with a significant part of 2028 also booked. Privately owned turbine maker Enercon expects turbine installations in Germany to reach 10–11 gigawatts in 2028, about twice last year’s level, signalling a sustained upswing in project activity.

Production capacity is not currently the main constraint. Nordex’s plants supplying nacelles for the German market are operating at around 60% of nominal capacity, leaving room to increase output. The company estimates it could produce components for an additional 2 gigawatts without building new factories.

The main challenge lies in moving oversized turbine components from factories to wind farm sites. Restrictions on when oversized vehicles can use motorways and slow, fragmented permit approvals are delaying deliveries. Nordex is installing fewer turbines in Germany than planned because some sites are not ready and transport permits are arriving too slowly, contributing to a 22% decline in its worldwide installations in the third quarter.

Developers face complex logistics on the ground. One project by Wust Wind & Sonne required 10 oversized deliveries for each of its three turbines, while the crane alone was delivered in about 65 truckloads. In Bavaria, local authorities banned roadside parking in two villages to enable trucks carrying 86-metre blades, travelling at 5–10 km per hour with blades raised upright, to negotiate tight bends.

Company executives describe transport permits as a real bottleneck, requiring early coordination to secure enough trucks and approvals. Even if current roadworks on motorways were resolved, existing restrictions on oversized vehicle movements would still limit the number of deliveries possible, raising concerns about the ability to serve the higher volumes implied by Germany’s targets.

Beyond transport, the industry faces staffing and supply chain constraints. While recent industrial layoffs in Germany have made it easier to recruit engineers, finding enough on-site construction crews remains difficult. Enercon also points to a limited number of suppliers capable of producing specialised towers for increasingly tall turbines, adding another layer of risk to project schedules.

Grid-related delays further complicate the expansion. Late grid connections and a shortage of substation contractors can leave completed turbines idle for months. Enercon plans to proceed with installations even when grid access is not immediately available, maintaining turbines on site until electricity can be exported, underlining the gap between physical build-out and operational integration.