Wind power is once again the most important energy source in Germany. But coal still accounts for a significant share.
Wind and water instead of coal and nuclear: The share of green electricity in the electricity generated in Germany reached a record high in the first quarter. 58.4 percent of the 121.5 billion kilowatt hours came from renewable sources, the Federal Statistical Office announced on Thursday. According to the Wiesbaden statisticians, wind, water, photovoltaics and biogas have never had such a large share in the first three months of a year since data collection began in 2018.
As in the same quarter of the previous year and the entire previous year, the most important source of energy in the first three months was wind power. According to calculations, 38.5 percent of the electricity generated in Germany came from wind power in the first quarter of 2024.
Coal remains in second place with a share of almost a quarter (23 percent), although coal-fired power production fell significantly. Compared to the first quarter of 2023, electricity feed-in from coal fell by 11.0 billion kilowatt hours or 28.2 percent. This was also the main reason why conventional energy sources such as coal and natural gas played a smaller role overall.
Electricity generation from conventional energy sources fell by a good quarter (25.4 percent) year-on-year, while renewable sources increased by 11.6 percent. Overall, according to preliminary data from the Federal Office, 7.5 percent less electricity was generated in Germany in the first quarter of the current year than in the first quarter of 2023 (131.4 billion kilowatt hours).
Source: Stern
