Germany Increases Power Generation from Coal and Gas

Germany has seen a resurgence in electricity production from fossil fuels, with a significant uptick in output from coal and gas plants. This shift follows a notable decrease in renewable energy generation, particularly wind power, during the first quarter of 2025.

Data from the Federal Statistical Office indicates that wind energy generation dropped by 29.2% due to exceptionally low wind conditions, contributing to an overall 17% decline in renewable energy production compared to the previous year. In contrast, the output from fossil fuels rose by 19.3%, marking the first time in two years that conventional energy sources outpaced renewables in Germany.

During the first quarter of the year, Germany produced a total of 119.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is a 1.9% reduction compared to the same period in 2024. Notably, fossil fuels accounted for 50.5% of the domestic electricity generation, significantly up from 41.5% the prior year.

Despite the overall decline in renewables, wind power remained the leading source of electricity generation, contributing 27.8% of the total output, closely followed by coal at 27%. Natural gas also increased its share, accounting for 20.6% of the energy mix. Meanwhile, solar energy production saw a positive trend, rising by over one-third to represent 9.2% of the total electricity generation. Biogas and hydropower contributed 6.1% and 3.8%, respectively.

Additionally, electricity imports into Germany surged by 14.9% to 19.3 billion kilowatt-hours in the first quarter, while exports fell by 3% to 16.2 billion kilowatt-hours. This shift indicates a growing reliance on external sources to meet energy demands amid fluctuating domestic production.