Renewables meet record share of German power needs in first half 2024

Renewables have met a record 58% of Germany’s power consumption during the first half of this year, thanks to a boom in new solar installations and above-average hydropower generation.

“Repeatedly, we are seeing a record share of renewables in electricity consumption. This is the reward for the persistent expansion of wind energy and photovoltaics in recent years," BDEW chairwoman Kerstin Andreae said.

She added that now the expansion of power grids needs to go hand in hand with the renewables expansion.

“Because green electricity is of no use to us if it cannot be used. The federal government must remove the remaining obstacles.

“Sector coupling will also become an important building block in the energy system of the future, and the production of hydrogen will play a central role here.”

Andreae said more hydrogen-ready gas power plants need to be built to secure output for system services at times “when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing”.

Within renewables, onshore wind led in the first half, providing 24% of Germany’s electricity needs (up from 22% a year earlier), while offshore wind made up 5% (from 4%). PV accounted for 14% of German power needs (up from 13%), while biomass met 9% (up from 8%) and hydropower 5% (up from 4%).

Overall power consumption went down somewhat to 261TWh during the first half, from 262TWh a year earlier.

Renewables during the first half of 2024 also accounted for 60% of gross electricity generation.