09.03.2026, Berlin.
Germany’s wind energy sector, which once provided farmers with stable profits, is now facing serious economic difficulties: revenues from the industry are falling sharply. Rossa Primavera News Agency Agricultural Desk examined the reasons behind this situation.
For several years, the wind energy sector brought significant income to farmers who leased their land for the installation of wind turbines through high rental payments. But the situation has changed.
Financial turmoil in major wind energy companies and the cancellation of previously planned projects are becoming increasingly common. For example, Germany’s largest wind project developer, ABO Energy, reported an annual loss of €170 million and is now struggling to survive.
Profitability is being affected by higher interest rates on loans and an uncertain political situation (both within Germany and abroad). Market conditions have changed significantly and abruptly, leading to asset write-downs, income redistribution, and shrinking margins for renewable energy project developers.
In 2017 Germany adopted the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). Under this law, wind turbine operators are required to participate in auctions to obtain the relevant electricity tariff. Initially, wind farm operators received relatively stable allowance — this was the case in 2023–2024.
However, since 2025 this allowance has been steadily decreasing. The authorities, who had actively ridden the “green” wave, initially encouraged wind energy projects with generous financial incentives. Later the wave subsided, leaving behind a country that still urgently needs electricity.
Industry experts believe that the downward trend in subsidies will continue, further worsening the profitability of wind energy operators. Specialists predict that prices at the 2026 auctions will effectively mean a revenue drop of about a quarter compared to 2024 and will fall significantly below the average cost of electricity production.
Investing in wind projects has simply become unprofitable: if there is any profit, it is minimal, and more often the projects only generate losses. Under such conditions, no one will be willing to invest in the sector.
