The energy transition is making progress in Germany, at least gradually: in 2023, for the first time, more than half of the energy used to generate electricity in Germany came from renewable sources, namely 56 percent. This is shown by current figures from the Federal Network Agency. In 2022 it was still 47.4 percent. The share of electricity consumption has also increased, reaching 55 percent in 2023, 6.6 percentage points higher than in the previous year.
Wind turbines are particularly important. On land and off the coast (on- and offshore) their share was 31.1 percent. Plants on land make the larger contribution. Solar energy supplied 12.1 percent, biomass 8.4 percent. The remaining percent comes from hydropower and other renewable generation.
One reason for the high proportion of generation and consumption is the weather, but also the expansion of output. The Federal Network Agency also breaks down how the individual renewables have developed: Generation from onshore wind turbines was around 18 percent higher than in the previous year, while the systems off the coast even produced five percent less than in 2022 – due, among other things, to maintenance work. Electricity generation from photovoltaics remained constant, which the Federal Network Agency attributes to the weather: more sun shone in 2022 than in 2023, but the expansion of solar systems was able to compensate for this difference. Hydropower also depended on the weather: Because it rained more, production was 16.5 percent higher than the previous year.
Overall, production from conventional energy sources fell by 24 percent. 36.8 percent less electricity was generated from hard coal and 24.8 percent less electricity from lignite. The last nuclear power plants were also shut down in April 2023. However, electricity generation from natural gas has increased. It was 31.3 percent higher. The reason for this is also the lower gas prices, which meant that gas power plants could be operated more economically again.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) said that Germany is making visible progress towards a climate-neutral electricity supply. This is “good for the economy and good for the climate”. In 2023, more solar systems were installed than ever before, and the expansion of onshore wind energy is becoming increasingly dynamic. The pace of network expansion is finally picking up. “There is still a lot to do, but the current success is a good incentive to continue the efforts,” said Habeck.