High expansion level sustains strong renewables share in Germany

Renewable energy installations in Germany covered almost 57 percent of gross power demand in Germany in the first three quarters of 2025, energy industry association BDEW and research institute ZSW have found in a joint analysis. The electricity output of wind turbines, solar panels and other renewable sources thus slightly (+0.9%) surpassed the level of the previous year until the end of September, despite a particularly weak wind output in the first quarter. At the same time, gross power consumption decreased by 0.4 percent compared to the previous year.

Solar electricity output increased by nearly one quarter thanks to a high expansion level in the previous year, “which now is bearing full fruit,” and a sustained high level in this year, BDEW and ZSW said. Due to the dip in the first quarter, total onshore wind power generation was down twelve percent compared to September 2024. “But the construction of new onshore turbines gained speed significantly in 2025,” the organisations added. With 3.2 gigawatts in new installations, Germany already has achieved the total expansion volume of the previous year after nine months. 

According to BDEW head Kerstin Andreae, the figures reflect a growing dynamic in the renewables sector, where fast expansion can compensate for annual fluctuations in energy generation. Depending on the weather in autumn, a visible increase compared to the previous year would still be possible, she added. “Ambitious expansion targets and faster licensing for renewable power installations have contributed to this positive trend,” Andreae argued, urging the government not to lose speed adding more renewable capacity. “In the long term, we will need more renewable power.”

Frithjof Staiß, managing director at ZSW, said the figures confirmed the findings of a recent monitoring report on the energy transition commissioned by the economy ministry in a bid to cut cost in the transformation. “A share of at least 80 percent in gross power consumption by 2030 seems achievable,” Staiß said, adding that steps taken by the previous government currently lead to much more successful auctions for building new renewable power installations. “The competition triggered this way is reflected in much lower costs for wind power in the latest auction,” the researcher said. “The expansion must be increased because only renewables offer a permanent resilience and crisis-readiness for the energy supply of a strong economy like Germany,” Staiß argued.

Germany's policymakers, industry and NGO have debated the speed of renewables expansion for months. The monitoring report found that electricity demand will show “robust” growth in the coming years, with exact volumes depending on policy choices and economic growth. However, minister Katherina Reiche concluded it would cut subsidies for renewables “to the absolutely necessary level,” lower sustainability requirements for hydrogen, and reduce targets for the rollout of offshore wind power, to reduce costs. The economy ministry had labelled the report as a “reality check” for the energy transition and said it aimed to put a greater policy focus on affordability and supply security alongside decarbonisation.