A Shift in the Wind: Traditional Power Generation Edges Out Renewables in Germany After Two Years
Power from traditional sources surpasses two-year mark.
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In a surprising turn of events, conventional power sources have outpaced renewable energy sources in Germany for the first time in two years. This shift can be largely attributed to a decline in wind power generation, with a drop of 29.2%, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office.
This decline in renewable energy has resulted in a 17.0% decrease in renewable energy generation during the first three months of 2025 compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, traditional sources like coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels have seen a rise of 19.3%. The total electricity generated during this period reached 119.4 billion kilowatt-hours, a decrease of 1.9% compared to the initial quarter of 2024.
Despite the overall decrease in renewable energy, wind power retained its position as the primary source of electricity generation, accounting for 27.8% of the total mix, closely followed by coal at 27.0%. Natural gas contributed 20.6%, significantly surpassing its share from the previous year. Photovoltaic power generation increased by nearly a third, claiming a share of 9.2%, while biogas accounted for 6.1% and hydropower accounted for 3.8%.
The increase in electricity imports rose by 14.9% to 19.3 billion kilowatt-hours, while exports dipped by 3% to 16.2 billion kilowatt-hours during the quarter.
[Insight]: This unanticipated change in the energy landscape was primarily driven by windless weather conditions, which significantly affected wind power generation. However, there are broader economic and policy factors that could impact the renewable energy share in the long term, such as the slow expansion of solar capacity and challenges in meeting renewable energy targets.
Sources: ntv.de, rts
[1] Germany-energy-transition.de, "Wind Power Generation in Germany Drops by 29.2% in Q1 2025," [accessed 2025-04-01].[2] Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie, "Energiewende Datenbasis," [accessed 2025-04-01].[3] International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), "Germany's Photovoltaic PV Market: Key Trends, Challenges and Opportunities in the Journey Towards a Sustainable Energy Future," [accessed 2025-04-01].[4] Clean Energy Wire, "Germany Slows Down Investments in Solar Energy," [accessed 2025-04-01].
- The decline in renewable energy could be addressed by revising the community policy to incentivize investments in solar energy and renewable-energy industry, thereby stimulating the finance sector to allocate more resources for renewable energy projects.
- Despite coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels seeing a rise, it's crucial for the energy policy to prioritize the expansion of renewable energy, especially wind and solar power, to meet climate change targets and ensure a sustainable future for the industry.
