Photo: WindEurope
WindEurope’s new Chief Executive Officer Tinne Van der Straeten, member of the Chamber of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Belgium and the country’s former minister of energy, will assume office on February 2. She is replacing Giles Dickson. The EU added 13 GW of wind capacity in 2025, less than half of what it requires.
WindEurope appointed Tinne Van der Straeten as its new CEO, effective on February 2. The organization pointed out that Belgium’s former minister of energy, from 2020 to 2025, is taking the helm at a critical time for Europe’s energy security, industrial competitiveness and climate commitments.
Tinne Van der Straeten oversaw Belgium’s wind energy expansion, including a broad consensus on Belgium’s response to the energy crisis in 2022, the announcement adds. She chaired the North Seas Energy Cooperation in 2020 and at the start of 2025 and the European Energy Council in 2024, and vice-chaired the ministerial meeting of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2022.
Most recently, the former minister served as a member of the Chamber of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Belgium. She is a member of the Flemish Green Party – Groen.
Wind energy is central to Europe’s energy independence
Van der Straeten said she would take on her new responsibility with determination at a defining moment for Europe.
“Wind energy is central to Europe’s energy independence, industrial competitiveness and climate ambitions. Wind is a home-grown and scalable technology. It delivers affordable power, strengthens energy independence and sustains a competitive industrial base with high-quality jobs across Europe,” the incoming chief said.
Former CEO Giles Dickson served ten years
WindEurope’s Chairman Henrik Andersen praised Tinne Van der Straeten for passionately ensuring wind was kept high on the political agenda in her home country of Belgium and across the European Union.
“She has collaborated across industry and government to shape energy policy and build positive long-term investment frameworks that enable sustainable wind deployment. I look forward to working with Tinne as she leads WindEurope forward and supports Europe’s journey to a more competitive, homegrown energy system together with its members,” he stated.
The WindEurope Board thanked former CEO Giles Dickson for his 10 years of leadership and contribution to Europe’s wind industry.
Affordability, competitiveness, security
Van der Straeten will focus on ensuring Europe gets the most from wind to deliver affordability, industrial competitiveness and energy security, the organization said.
Faced with mounting geopolitical challenges, the continent must shake its dependence on imported fossil fuels, WindEurope stressed.
“Wind is uniquely placed to deliver that. A renewables-based energy system, with wind at its core, will save Europe up to EUR 1.6 trillion, even when counting the grid and backup costs. To reap these benefits, Europe must deliver on the Clean Industrial Deal, accelerate the buildout of homegrown and competitive renewables and ramp up the electrification of its economy,” the update reads.
Today wind energy generates 20% of all electricity consumed in Europe. With the right policies, the level will rise to 34% by 2030 and more than 50% by 2050, WindEurope estimated.
The EU installed 13 GW of new capacity in 2025. It is less than half of what Europe needs to deliver its 2030 energy security and climate targets.
“The wind sector is at a turning point. The industry is ready to accelerate and to provide more than 600,000 jobs by 2030. But it is held back by permitting issues and infrastructure delays,” said Tinne Van der Straeten.
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