Germany’s wind and solar power generation dropped to its lowest level in a decade during the first four months of 2025, reaching just 80 terawatt-hours (TWh), according to data from climate think tank Ember.
As a result of the shortfall in renewables, Germany increased its use of coal and natural gas by 10% compared to the same period last year. This pushed the share of fossil fuels in the country’s energy mix to its highest level in seven years.
The main factor behind the decline was unusually low wind speeds, which caused wind power generation to fall by 31% year-on-year to 39 TWh. This marks the lowest wind output since 2017, despite a 30% increase in wind turbine installations over the past several years.
Ember warns that the situation could worsen in the coming months as low wind speeds are expected to continue into the warmer season. This could prolong Germany’s dependence on coal and gas.
Coal-fired electricity generation rose 16% in the January-April period to 40 TWh. Natural gas generation, however, declined by 9% due to high prices earlier in the year. That trend could reverse as gas prices have since fallen. Yet they may rise again as Europe begins refilling storage facilities ahead of winter, when demand typically peaks.
Solar output, in contrast, increased in early 2025 and is expected to rise further with more sunshine in late spring and summer. Still, it is unclear whether solar gains will be enough to offset the so-called “wind doldrums”—long periods of low wind speeds that hamper wind power production.
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, continues to face challenges in balancing its energy transition goals with seasonal and weather-driven fluctuations in renewable power generation.
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