The development of renewable energy sources has accelerated significantly over the past two years in Germany, according to the German Energy and Water Association (BDEW). With around 20 gigawatts of newly installed capacity in 2024, a record has been reached. In the first half of 2025, renewable energy sources already cover about 54% of Germany’s electricity consumption and thus occupy a central place in the country’s energy mix. Ambitious expansion targets, accompanied by the acceleration of permitting procedures for renewable energy installations, are contributing to this positive trend.
The development of renewable energy sources alone, however, is not sufficient for the energy transition. It must be integrated into the system and, in particular, aligned with the grids, their expansion, and capacities. The electricity produced must effectively reach consumers.
The concrete figures:
The EEG target for 2024 for solar photovoltaic capacity has been achieved with 17 gigawatts (GW) of net additional capacity. To reach the 2030 target, an annual addition of 19 GW will be required.
In wind energy capacities, both onshore and offshore, the net increase of 3.3 GW falls short of the 2024 EEG target. Onshore wind alone is short by 5.5 GW. To achieve the 2030 targets, an annual net increase of 12 GW in onshore and offshore wind power will be necessary.
BDEW remains optimistic, noting significant progress in wind energy development. Since the beginning of 2024, permits have been issued for projects totaling around 26 GW, which will be implemented in the coming years. This pace is essential to achieve the EEG and climate protection targets.
“The development of renewable energy sources is a success story,” explains Kerstin Andreae, Chair of the Executive Board of BDEW. “Now we must not slow down, because in the future we will need even more renewables—for power supply, heating, transport, and industry. The European Emissions Trading Schemes I and II, as well as maintaining limit values for passenger cars and trucks, will trigger additional investments in electrification and thereby further increase electricity consumption. However, we must make the expansion more efficient and optimized, because this positive growth poses a challenge for transmission system operators due to the increasingly uncontrolled feed-in of energy.”
“Of key importance will be better coordination of growing production and storage with grid expansion, while at the same time aligning more closely with revenues and system integration costs,” Andreae continues. “For this purpose, greater attention must be paid to suitable locations. At the same time, it is important to develop and promote political options for flexibility on the part of both production and consumption—for example, through storage, electrolysers, or flexible consumers.” Storage and sector coupling play a crucial role in this respect. These flexibility options must continue to be developed consistently.
Research, development, and innovation in net-zero technologies can remain in Germany and Europe if the framework conditions are appropriate. The development of renewable energy sources is not only a central element of climate protection strategy, but also a long-term driver of growth with benefits for society. Renewables strengthen competitiveness, create new markets and jobs, and reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports. A modern, climate-neutral economy is based on know-how, innovation, and technological leadership, not on limited resources. For this transition to continue successfully, reliable framework conditions, investments in infrastructure, and skilled professionals are needed, BDEW emphasizes.
