Germany’s renewable energy sector continues to thrive, with electricity generated from wind, solar, biomass and hydropower accounting for around 56% of total electricity consumption in the first three quarters of the year.
This represents an increase from 52% in the same period last year, according to forecasts from the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) and the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), which were made available to dpa on Tuesday.
According to the calculations, renewable energy sources will consistently cover more than half of the country’s electricity consumption by 2024, with percentages ranging between 53% and 59%.
Solar energy has seen significant growth, with some 65 billion kilowatt hours generated – 15% more than the same period in 2023.
Electricity production from fossil fuels, especially coal and natural gas, fell by 10.5% to a total of 149 billion kilowatt hours.
Overall, gross electricity generation from renewable sources is estimated to have increased by 8.3% to 217 billion kilowatt hours.
“The fact that more than half of the kilowatt hours of electricity consumed in Germany is now consistently renewable shows that we are on the right track,” said Kerstin Andreae, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BDEW.
Andreae emphasized the importance of developing storage facilities and expanding the electricity grid to fully utilize green electricity.
“Electricity generation from wind and sun is not constant. We need safe power for times when the sun does not shine and the wind does not blow.”