Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Renewable energy in Germany - statistics & facts
Since 1990, the use of renewable energy sources in Germany has increased significantly. The renewables' expansion is one of the central pillars in Germany's energy transition to realize its climate goals as a member of the Paris Agreement. By 2030, Germany plans to reach an installed renewable capacity of at least 374 gigawatts, more than doubling the current renewable capacity. In that same year, the share of renewables over the total electricity generation is targeted to reach at least 75 percent. Germany's growing share of green energy will be paramount in the European Union's efforts to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, especially as the EU's largest energy consumer.
In the last years, the renewable energy sector in Germany has presented a growing trend. The European country has set ambitious renewable energy targets for 2030, aiming to more than double the current installed capacity and reaching at least a 75 percent share of renewable electricity. Wind and solar energy will see the highest growth. In comparison, other renewables such as hydropower and bioenergy are forecast to remain mostly constant.
Germany's wind power sector
Wind power made the largest contribution to Germany's electricity mix in 2023, accounting for almost 27 percent of the total electricity generated during that year. Whilst onshore wind power is the leading source of renewable energy in Germany, it has only been in recent years that offshore wind power started contributing to electricity production. In 2013, electricity produced through offshore wind power amounted to 0.9 terawatt hours. Within just a decade, this had increased to roughly 23.9 terawatt hours. As the leading renewable energy source in Germany, it is little surprising that as of 2023, there were over 100,000 employees in the wind energy sector.Solar energy in Germany
Following wind power, solar photovoltaics constitute the second largest renewable energy source and the most ubiquitous across the country. As of November 2024, there were over 4.6 million of sites generating solar energy in Germany. The country's solar energy sector is poised for significant growth in the coming years. Between 2024 and 2027, Germany is expected to install between 58 and 100 gigawatts of new solar photovoltaic capacity.In the last years, the renewable energy sector in Germany has presented a growing trend. The European country has set ambitious renewable energy targets for 2030, aiming to more than double the current installed capacity and reaching at least a 75 percent share of renewable electricity. Wind and solar energy will see the highest growth. In comparison, other renewables such as hydropower and bioenergy are forecast to remain mostly constant.
