Onshore wind sector ramps up AI investment to reduce risk

Within Europe’s onshore wind sector there is growing consensus on the need for AI-driven planning tools and smarter coordination to reduce project risk.

This is one the key findings of the new report from Shoreline Wind, Chain Reaction: Onshore supply chain must adapt for global growth, which highlights the effects of supply chain delays, regulatory complexity and equipment reliability issues.

According to Shoreline Wind, digital technologies, particularly AI and simulation-based planning, are increasingly seen as key enablers for improving resilience, cutting delays, and keeping onshore wind projects on track.

“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, optimise schedules across portfolios, and avoid mistakes that cost time and money.”

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The report states that long lead times for key components 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. “Likewise, if the site is operational, you could be losing upwards of 15 months of revenue before a replacement is secured.”

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.

The report outlined that turbine manufacturers are starting to prioritise quality over constant iteration, which is a positive change. Delivering proven, reliable technology - and being selective about markets - is becoming a smarter play, states Shoreline Wind.

“We’re moving beyond the era of fast growth at any cost,” Endrerud added. “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.”