Powering the winds of change

Evolution of cumulative wind power capacity in Europe

Our involvement in wind power commercialization spans over four decades. Working alongside industry partners, ABB maximizes energy output, ensures grid stability, and maintains smooth operations through automation, electrification, and digital solutions engineered to withstand harsh environmental conditions.

Today, more than 60,000 wind turbines worldwide rely on ABB components, establishing us as the largest supplier of electrical components to the global wind industry. This extensive installed base spans numerous countries and represents decades of proven performance.

ABB’s technology and engineering solutions act as a central gateway that unlocks the offshore wind process, allowing the electricity generated by wind turbines to flow through to the national grid and into peoples’ homes. When turbines at a wind farm such as Dogger Bank – the world’s largest – produce power, offshore substations allow the alternating current (AC) to be converted to direct current (DC) so the electricity can be transported onshore, where it is inverted back to AC.

Wind farms: modernization vs replacement

As wind farms expand globally, nearly half of all turbines have reached 15-20 years of operation—a critical phase where performance decline accelerates. Rather than replacing aging turbines and creating massive waste, the industry needs a sustainable solution that balances environmental responsibility with economic viability.

The answer lies in modernization. By upgrading key components like converter controllers, power electronics, and energy-efficient drives, operators can extend turbine lifespan while improving performance and reducing maintenance costs. This approach can effectively double converter life—and by extension, the entire turbine's operational years—aligning with industry trends toward efficiency and cost-effectiveness without the environmental burden of premature decommissioning.

ABB currently supports 14 offshore wind projects worldwide, collectively representing 20 GW of power capacity. Clean, plentiful, and sustainable, offshore wind offers unprecedented possibilities for large-scale energy generation.

Solar market growth

The journey from the first photovoltaic cell invented in 1954 to today's massive solar installations represents one of technology's greatest success stories. Modern photovoltaic panels and concentrated solar power plants (CSP) have become cornerstones of the clean energy transition. 

Global renewable power capacity is expected to double between now and 2030, increasing by 4600 gigawatts (GW) — with solar PV accounting for almost 80% of the global increase¹.

ABB has been supporting the solar power sector since the 1990s with automation, electrification and digitalization solutions, exhibiting technological expertise in how best to harness, control and store solar energy and efficiently convert it into a reliable power source, ready for transfer into the local grid.

The integration challenge: when nature meets the grid 

The future of energy isn’t just clean—it’s unpredictable. While renewable growth accelerates exponentially, a foundational challenge persists: nature doesn't follow a schedule. Unlike fossil fuels that deliver consistent, on-demand power, wind and solar are inherently variable, decentralized, and weather-dependent. 

Globally, the race to triple renewable capacity by 2030, as pledged at COP28, is well underway—but integration, not generation, is now the challenge. Balancing renewable power supply with end-user demand is challenging as the share of renewables grows.

ABB solutions

Grid stability

Grid efficiency

Grid reliability

Key case studies from around the world

Solar

Wind

Podcasts

Sources:

1. IEA Renewables 2025 report