In the first six months of 2023, Germany witnessed a significant rise in renewable energy consumption, accounting for 52.3% of the country's power consumption. This represents a noteworthy increase of 3.1 percentage points compared to the same period last year. The upswing can be attributed to higher solar production and a decline in overall electricity usage, according to data released on Tuesday by utility group BDEW and the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW).
The latest figures reveal a remarkable improvement from the renewable energy share of 49.2% recorded during the first half of 2022. Germany remains steadfast in its ambition to rely on green power generated from solar, wind, biomass, and hydroelectric sources, with the goal of achieving an 80% share in its energy mix by 2030. This strategic transition involves the country's departure from nuclear power, a gradual reduction in coal generation, and a greater utilization of gas plants primarily for grid backup purposes.
The preliminary data demonstrates an upsurge in photovoltaic production during May and June, largely influenced by favorable weather conditions. Additionally, it highlights a significant decrease in power consumption during the first half of 2023, with electricity usage declining by 6.5% year-on-year, amounting to 262.8 terawatt hours (TWh), as reported by BDEW in a statement.
The calculation of these figures adheres to a European Union requirement, which considers the share of renewable energy based on consumption rather than production. The German government has adopted this methodology to assess its climate targets, as confirmed by BDEW.
Within the six-month period, domestic electricity production experienced a decline of 10.8% to reach 265.9 TWh, inclusive of production for export purposes. Renewable energy sources accounted for 51.7% of the total output, equivalent to 137.5 TWh, marking an increase from 46.4% recorded during the first half of 2022. This growth occurred despite a marginal 0.6% decrease in green power production volumes.
On the other hand, conventional energy sources such as nuclear, coal, natural gas, and oil contributed 128.4 TWh of output, indicating a reduction compared to 160.0 TWh registered a year earlier. The decline in conventional production reflects the ongoing phase-out of nuclear energy, which was completed by mid-April, as well as operators scaling back output to align with weak demand.
Germany's continued progress in renewable energy consumption not only underscores its commitment to sustainable energy transition but also positions it as a leading global player in the pursuit of cleaner and more environmentally friendly power sources.
