WindEurope has named Tinne Van der Straeten, Belgium’s former Minister of Energy, as its next Chief Executive Officer, marking a leadership transition at a pivotal moment for Europe’s renewable energy sector. Van der Straeten will officially assume the role on February 2, 2026, succeeding Giles Dickson, who has led the organisation for a decade.
In announcing the appointment, WindEurope’s board acknowledged Dickson’s long-standing contribution to the European wind industry, crediting his leadership with helping shape the organisation into a central voice for wind power across the continent. His tenure coincided with a period of cing reliance on imported fossil fuels is no longer just a climate imperative, but a strategic necessity amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
WindEurope estimates that a renewables-led energy system with wind at its core could save Europe up to €1.6 trillion, even after accounting for grid upgrades and backup capacity. Achieving these savings, however, will require faster implementation of the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal, accelerated deployment of domestic renewable capacity, and wider electrification across industries.
Currently, wind energy accounts for around 20% of Europe’s electricity generation. With supportive policy frameworks, WindEurope believes this figure could rise to 34% by 2030 and exceed 50% by 2050. Yet progress remains uneven. In 2025, the EU added just 13 GW of new wind capacity, less than half of what is required to meet the bloc’s energy security and climate goals.
“The wind sector is at a turning point,” Van der Straeten said. “The industry is ready to scale and deliver more than 600,000 jobs by 2030, but it continues to face barriers such as permitting delays and infrastructure constraints. I look forward to working with policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to unlock the full potential of wind energy for Europe.”
Her appointment signals WindEurope’s intent to deepen its engagement with governments and institutions as Europe navigates the next phase of its energy transition.growing urgency around energy security, climate targets, and industrial competitiveness in Europe.
Van der Straeten brings deep policy and operational experience to the role. During her tenure as Belgium’s Minister of Energy from 2020 to 2025, she oversaw the country’s expansion of wind energy capacity and played a key role in building political consensus during Europe’s 2022 energy crisis. Her work extended beyond national borders, reflecting an increasingly coordinated European approach to energy policy.
She has chaired major regional and international energy forums, including the North Sea Energy Cooperation in 2020 and again in early 2025, the European Energy Council in 2024, and served as vice-chair of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Ministerial Meeting in 2022. Most recently, she served as a Member of the Belgian Parliament, further strengthening her legislative and policy credentials.
As CEO of WindEurope, Van der Straeten will focus on positioning wind energy as a cornerstone of Europe’s transition toward a more affordable, competitive, and secure energy system. The organisation argues that reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels is no longer just a climate imperative, but a strategic necessity amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
WindEurope estimates that a renewables-led energy system with wind at its core could save Europe up to €1.6 trillion, even after accounting for grid upgrades and backup capacity. Achieving these savings, however, will require faster implementation of the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal, accelerated deployment of domestic renewable capacity, and wider electrification across industries.
Currently, wind energy accounts for around 20% of Europe’s electricity generation. With supportive policy frameworks, WindEurope believes this figure could rise to 34% by 2030 and exceed 50% by 2050. Yet progress remains uneven. In 2025, the EU added just 13 GW of new wind capacity, less than half of what is required to meet the bloc’s energy security and climate goals.
“The wind sector is at a turning point,” Van der Straeten said. “The industry is ready to scale and deliver more than 600,000 jobs by 2030, but it continues to face barriers such as permitting delays and infrastructure constraints. I look forward to working with policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to unlock the full potential of wind energy for Europe.”
Her appointment signals WindEurope’s intent to deepen its engagement with governments and institutions as Europe navigates the next phase of its energy transition.