Show Notes
Gerard and Laurent welcome Tinne Van der Straeten, CEO of WindEurope—the leading voice of the wind industry in Europe, representing more than 600 members across the entire value chain. Tinne brings a distinctive perspective to the discussion. As Belgium’s Minister for Energy during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, she experienced an energy crisis firsthand. Her background in policymaking offers a different vantage point from that of investors, shaped by the practical realities and trade-offs of government decision-making.
The conversation highlights that, despite ongoing challenges, wind energy continues to expand rapidly across Europe, with €45 billion in final investment decisions recorded in 2025. There is now a clear opportunity to repower first-generation onshore turbines, which could double installed capacity and potentially triple electricity generation. Offshore wind also stands out as a major growth area, with the North Sea remaining the central hub, while the Baltic Sea is developing steadily and early signs of momentum are emerging in Spain.
At the same time, the discussion points to the persistence of outdated, ideologically driven debates around energy sources—such as gas in Germany or nuclear in France—which increasingly feel disconnected from current realities. Policies like bans on onshore wind in Poland and offshore wind in Sweden illustrate decisions that risk slowing progress.
A central theme is the urgent need to electrify demand, particularly through the adoption of electric vehicles, heat pumps, and the expansion of data centers.
The conversation concludes by emphasizing that the missing piece is a large, integrated pan-European grid—potentially extending to Canada—combined with battery storage. Such infrastructure would accelerate decarbonization, support economic resilience, and help Europe regain control over its energy future.
Sources: GWEC 2026 https://www.gwec.net/reports/globalwindreport WindEurope Wind Energy Statistics and Outlook Report https://windeurope.org/news/europe-invested-45bn-in-new-wind-energy-in-2025-market-tampering-would-put-future-investments-at-acute-risk/ WindEurope energy system cost study: https://windeurope.org/news/a-renewables-based-energy-system-will-save-europe-1-6-trillion/
More from Redefining Energy
Last year, the nuclear industry experienced something close to a gold rush. SMRs — Small Modular Reactors — became the hottest story in energy. Private capital poured in, valuations exploded, and the industry produced an impressive collection of truly bombastic promises. The backdrop is undeniably powerful: electrification is accelerating, geopolitics are reshaping energy markets, and the world needs reliable, 24/7 clean power. Nuclear has rarely enjoyed such formidable tailwinds.
The current datacenter buildout is the biggest GDP bet in America since the railroads 150 years ago. We have never seen a frenzy quite like this. The system is running on overdrive—and the cracks are starting to show.
The global market for Virtual Power Plants is assessed around 100GW (+/- 20GW). It is a 7bnUSD expected to grow at a CAGR above 20% in the next 5 years to reach 40bnUSD within a decade. VPP are a digitally coordinated flexible network of distributed resources: cheaper than central stations. They manage behind the meter assets like Solar, batteries, HVAC, EV…
Joseph J. Romm (1960–2026) was an MIT-trained physicist who became one of the most prominent voices in the U.S. climate movement after serving as Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy in the 1990s.
In our series: How AI is revolutionising Energy, Laurent and Gerard dive deep into the intricate corner of Energy Management system for large industrial clusters.