Europe’s onshore wind sector is facing rising pressure from supply chain delays, equipment reliability issues, and regulatory complexity, but there is growing consensus that AI-driven planning tools and smarter coordination offer a clear way forward. That’s the key message of a new report from Shoreline Wind, “Chain Reaction: Onshore supply chain must adapt for global growth.” The report draws on insights from leading developers, insurers, and investors from across the onshore wind market.
According to the report, long lead times for key components — including transformer delivery delays of up to 15 months — have become a leading bottleneck for wind projects across Europe. These delays often exceed the typical 12-month indemnity period for insured projects, which has increased the exposure to unplanned downtime and financial risk.
“That’s a significant risk preventing the whole site becoming operational if [delays happen] in the construction phase,” said Rosa Van Reyk, senior underwriter at GCube Insurance Services, who contributed to the report.
The report also flags new regulatory demands, such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) in Europe, which are increasing compliance burdens across the global value chain. This has created fresh operational drag, but also a push toward more integrated decision-making.
“All the directives are putting additional work for the supply chain to comply, so that’s also definitely something that has the potential to slow down the manufacturing,” said Krystyna Aneta Puchalka, head of Supply Chain for Renewables Onshore & Offshore, Ignitis Renewables.
Digital technologies, particularly AI and simulation-based planning, are increasingly put forward as key enablers for improving resilience, cutting delays, and keeping onshore wind projects on track. Having recently expanded into the onshore wind market, Shoreline Wind is now applying its AI-powered platform, proven in the offshore market, to tackle risks across the full project lifecycle of onshore projects.
“We’re working closely with developers, service providers, and asset owners, and we’re seeing a shift from reactive to proactive planning,” said Ole-Erik Endrerud, CEO of Shoreline Wind. “With digital twins and AI, stakeholders can spot bottlenecks early, optimize schedules across portfolios, and avoid mistakes that cost time and money. We’re moving beyond the era of fast growth at any cost. The next phase of onshore wind will be defined by intelligent planning, agile execution, and digital tools that help teams work better together. That’s how we build resilience and stay on track for net zero.”
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