In the first half of 2019, solar, wind and other renewable sources accounted for 44% of the electricity consumed in Germany. Preliminary calculations by the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) and the German Federal Association of Energy and Water Management (BDEW) yielded this figure. Renewables had accounted for 39% of electricity consumption in the first half of 2018.
Onshore wind power remained the dominant source with 55.8 billion kilowatt (kWh) hours (H1 2018: 47.3 billion kWh, growth: 18 percent). Photovoltaic systems generated 24 billion kWh (H1 2018: 23 billion kWh). Offshore wind power again posted the steepest growth, rising 30% to 12 billion kWh (H1 2018: 9.2 billion kWh). Other renewable energies, mainly biomass and hydropower, accounted for 36.7 billion kWh (H1 2018: 37.2 billion kWh).
Renewables’ high share of energy production in the first half of 2019 is also attributable to exceptional weather conditions. While March brought record-setting winds, the other months’ wind yields consistently exceeded the long-term averages.
