Slow Wind Conditions Curb Generation in Germany

Renewable energy accounted for 54.5% of Germany's power consumption in the first six months of the year, down 2.7 percentage points from a year earlier, as slow wind speeds curbed generation, data showed on Tuesday.

Germany has boosted its green power capacity as it seeks to shift towards a low-carbon economy and hit a political goal for renewables to account for 80% of consumption by 2030.

It also needs renewable generation to fill the gap after it halted its imports of Russian gas in response to the Ukraine war.

But Tuesday's data from utility association BDEW underlines the need for back-up power when weather conditions are unfavourable.

For now Germany still relies on coal and some gas to supplement renewables.

Between January and June 2024, the renewables share was 57.2%, according to the data from BDEW and the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research, or ZSW.

"The decline in electricity generation from wind energy in the first half of the year was primarily due to the historically exceptionally weak wind conditions in the first quarter of 2025," said a joint statement.

The preliminary figures showed onshore wind production by volume fell 18.3% and offshore volumes by 17.0% year-on-year in the first six months.

Hydropower volumes fell by 29% due to declines in precipitation and too little snow melt left to fill rivers after a warm winter.

However, photovoltaic generation increased by 23.0%.

National electricity usage fell 0.7% to 258.6 terawatt hours in the period under review, while domestic production edged down 0.2% to 251.2 TWh, with the balance accounted for by imports.

(Reuters)