Over 100 Billion kWh of Wind Power in 2024: Wind Energy Expands its Leading Position in Germany - Coal-fired Power Collapses

Muenster, Germany - Wind energy is by far the most important source of energy in the electricity sector in Germany. Today, on October 7, 2024, the mark of 100 billion kWh of wind power was exceeded in the current year 2024, earlier than ever before in one year. In the previous year 2023, this mark was only reached on 19.10.2023.

In Germany, the wind and solar markets are continuing to develop at a fast pace in 2024. This is due to the continuing high pace of expansion of renewable power plant capacity. This also means that coal-fired power generation (lignite and hard coal) is continuing to decline sharply as things stand. However, a new record for electricity production from renewable energies in 2024 is very likely.

Germany: Wind power on a par with electricity from lignite, hard coal and gas-fired power plants combined

In the current year (period: 01.01. - 07.10.2024), wind energy is in first place with 100 billion kWh of electricity (same period in 2023: 95 billion kWh), well ahead of photovoltaics with around 58 billion kWh (2023: 51 billion kWh) in second place. This is the result of an evaluation of data (net electricity feed-in to the grids) from the European grid operator Entso-e by the International Economic Forum for Renewable Energies (IWR).

Lignite follows in third place in Germany with 51 billion kWh (2023: 58 billion kWh), gas with 35 billion kWh (2023: 37 billion kWh) and biomass with 30 billion kWh (2023: 30 billion kWh). Electricity generation from hydropower has amounted to around 14 billion kWh so far this year (2023: 11 billion kWh)

The sharpest decline can be seen in electricity generation from hard coal-fired power plants. While 29 billion kWh of coal-fired electricity was generated and fed into the grids in the previous year's period 01-01 - 07.10.2023, this figure was only around 18 billion kWh on this year's reporting date 07.10.2024. This corresponds to a decrease of 38 percent.

IWR: Wind and solar expansion currently increases the amount of domestic electricity by around 20 billion kWh per year

According to the Working Group on Energy Balances (as of 15.02.2024), electricity generation from renewable energies in Germany climbed to a record 272 billion kWh in 2023 (2022: 254 billion kWh, 2021: 234 billion kWh). “The current pace of expansion of wind and solar installations will lead to more domestic energy amounting to around 20 billion kWh of electricity per year, while at the same time reducing imports of fossil fuels and lowering the risk of price fluctuations on the global market due to geopolitical upheavals,” says IWR CEO Dr. Norbert Allnoch.

Source: IWR Online, Oct 10 2024