Record Additions in Germany: 8,000 MW of New Wind And Solar Capacity in The First Half of 2023

Münster, Germany - The expansion of wind and solar energy in Germany is accelerating in the first half of 2023 and continues to gain momentum. This is according to an initial analysis of data from the market master data register maintained at the Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA) by Internationales Wirtschaftsforum Regenerative Energien (IWR) in Münster.

From January to June 2023, new wind and solar plants with a record capacity of 8,000 MW (8 GW) went into operation in Germany. Solar energy in particular is booming. For 2023 as a whole, the IWR expects over 15,000 MW of new RE power plant capacity. The additional electricity generation from the 2023 additions will reach approximately 20 billion kWh of electricity annually.

Solar additions 1st HY 2023: 465,000 new PV systems with 6,500 MW - Bavaria in 1st place

According to the IWR evaluation, solar energy in particular is booming in Germany. From January to June 2023 alone, around 465,000 new solar plants with 6,500 MW capacity (January - June 2022: 165,000 plants, 3,800 MW) went into operation and produce electricity, more than ever before in a six-month period. This is a 71 percent increase in PV capacity compared to the same period last year. The high number of new solar installations indicates that most of the growth is in smaller private installations.

Bavaria leads the German state ranking "solar energy additions" at the half-year mark, with around 1,600 MW of new PV capacity, ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia (1,000 MW), Baden-Württemberg (900 MW), Lower Saxony (630 MW) and Brandenburg (430 MW). The German state with the highest absolute PV addition dynamic is currently North Rhine-Westphalia. Here, new PV capacity climbed sharply by 580 MW from around 420 MW (H1 2022) to 1,000 MW in the first half of 2023.

New wind energy capacity continues to recover - Schleswig-Holstein in 1st place

The German wind energy market can continue to recover steadily, but is developing less dynamically than the German solar market, according to the IWR. In the first six months of 2023, just under 350 new wind turbines with a capacity of around 1,750 MW went into operation, of which 1,520 MW is accounted for by onshore wind energy (January - June 2022: 990 MW) and 230 MW by offshore wind power capacity (January - June 2022: 0 MW).

Schleswig-Holstein leads the federal state ranking "wind energy additions" at the halfway point of the year with around 580 MW of new wind power capacity in first place, ahead of Lower Saxony (230 MW), North Rhine-Westphalia (200 MW) and Brandenburg (150 MW). In Saxony and Thuringia, as well as in the city states of Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg, no new wind turbines went into operation in the first half of 2023.

IWR outlook 2023: over 15,000 MW of new RE capacity in Germany - 20 billion kWh more electricity annually

According to the IWR, new renewable power plant capacity in Germany could rise to over 15,000 MW in 2023 as a whole. Currently, new solar plants with a monthly average capacity of more than 1,000 MW are commissioned in Germany alone. The additional electricity generation through the addition of new plants in 2023 will thus reach approx. 20 billion kilowatt hours of electricity.

Note: The IWR data evaluation of the market master data register at the BNetzA reflects the status as of 05.07.2023 and represents a snapshot. Statistical changes (also retroactive) are possible at any time due to individual subsequent registrations of plants or corrections to the plant register by the BNetzA. The uncertainties do not lead to changes in the trend statements.

Source: IWR Online, 10 Jul 2023