Wind and solar help achieve new heights in renewable energy usage.
In the first three months of 2024, renewable energy dominated Germany's electricity production, accounting for nearly 60% of the total. Wind power maintained its lead, while solar energy saw the most significant growth. Coal, on the other hand, is steadily losing its appeal for power generation.
Green Energy Breaks Records: The proportion of renewable electricity produced in Germany hit a new high in the first quarter, with 58.4% of the 121.5 billion kilowatt-hours coming from green sources, according to the Federal Statistical Office. This has been the highest percentage since data collection began in 2018.
Wind Power Reigns Supreme: Wind power remained the largest contributor to Germany's electricity portfolio, supplying 38.5% of the total. Calculations show that wind generation increased by 5 billion kilowatt-hours (+12%) compared to the first quarter of 2023. Coming in a close second was solar power, with a rise of 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours (+21%).
Slow Decline for Coal: Coal continues to lose its appeal in Germany's power mix. In the first quarter of 2024, coal-generated electricity made up 23% of the overall production. Compared to the same period in 2023, there was a drop of 11 billion kilowatt-hours or 28.2%. Natural gas also saw a decrease of 1.9%, providing 15.8% of the total electricity feed-in at 19.2 billion kilowatt-hours. The electricity production from traditional energy carriers saw a decline of nearly a quarter in a year (25.4%).
Renewables on the Rise: Preliminary figures from the Federal Office show a 11.6% rise in renewable energy generation in the first quarter of 2024. The amount of electricity produced in Germany in the first quarter of this year was 131.4 billion kilowatt-hours, which is 7.5% less than during the same period in 2023.
Read also:
- The Federal Statistical Office reported that renewable energies, including wind energy and photovoltaics, accounted for an unprecedented 58.4% of Germany's electricity production in the first quarter of 2024, surpassing coal-fired power plants, which saw a significant decrease in usage.
- As Germany shifts towards a more sustainable energy future, wind energy continues to lead the charge, with a 12% increase in power generation compared to the first quarter of 2023, while solar energy also saw growth of 21%.
- With the rise of renewable energies in Germany's power supply, there has been a noticeable decline in the use of traditional energy sources, such as coal-fired power plants, which contributed only 23% of the total electricity production during the first quarter of 2024.
