Windless Quarters: Traditional Power Regains the Lead in Germany's Energy Output
Conventional power surpasses levels not seen in the past two years.
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For the first time in two years, conventional power sources beat renewables in Germany's electricity production. This windless first quarter dropped wind power generation by a whopping 29.2%, as per the Federal Statistical Office's data.
This shift resulted in a 17.0% decrease in renewable energy generation from January to March compared to the previous year. On the other hand, coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels saw a 19.3% increase during the same period. In total, 119.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity were produced and supplied to the grid in the first quarter, a 1.9% decrease from the first quarter of 2024.
Notably, more than half of the electricity generated in Germany (50.5%) originated from fossil fuels, as compared to 41.5% the year before. Despite the overall drop in renewable energy, wind power maintained its position as the primary energy source for electricity production, accounting for 27.8% of the total. Coal followed closely at 27.0%, while natural gas contributed 20.6%, a rise from the previous year.
Photovoltaic power generation experienced a 33% increase to hold a 9.2% share of the electricity mix during the first quarter, making a substantial contribution. Biogas accounted for 6.1% of the production, and hydropower contributed 3.8%.
Germany's electricity imports increased by 14.9% to 19.3 billion kilowatt-hours in the first quarter, while exports dropped by 3% to 16.2 billion kilowatt-hours.
Sources: ntv.de, RTS
On a larger scale, Germany struggled with renewable energy due to unfavorable weather conditions, particularly weak winds in the first quarter[4]. Specifically, the country's main renewable energy source, wind power, dropped to a 27.8% share of the electricity mix, contrasting the 38.5% contribution in the same period the previous year[4]. This shift in power sources highlights the challenges associated with integrating variable renewable energy into the grid.
[4] overall: Germany's shift in energy production can be attributed to the adverse weather conditions, particularly the windless first quarter, leading to a significant reduction in wind power output, causing the share of electricity generated from renewable sources to drop to 49.5% of total domestic production compared to 58.5% in the first quarter of 2024. The main sources of electricity generation in Germany included fossil fuels (50.5%) and renewable energies (49.5%). Within the renewable category, wind power remained the most significant contributor but saw a sharp decrease from the previous year, highlighting the impact of the weather-induced slump.
- The unfavorable weather conditions, particularly the windless first quarter, contributed to Germany's shift in energy policy, leading to a significant decrease in renewable energy generation, specifically wind power, in the country.
- The decline in renewable energy, especially wind power, is a consequence of climate-change-induced weather patterns, such as weak winds, which have affected the performance of renewable energy sources in Germany.
- Despite the overall drop in renewable energy output, the environmental-science community emphasizes the importance of long-term investment in renewable-energy industries for sustainable and climate-friendly energy production.
- Financial institutions and policymakers must consider the implications of these weather-induced energy shifts and work towards the development and integration of alternative renewable-energy sources and more resilient energy policy.
