Overview
- Preliminary figures released Wednesday by industry groups BDEW and ZSW show renewables supplied 53% of Germany’s electricity in the first quarter of 2026.
- Total generation reached 140.6 TWh, with 73.4 TWh from renewables and 67.2 TWh from coal and gas, led by onshore wind at 24.5% of the mix.
- The increase reflects a rebound from a wind-poor first quarter of 2025, as onshore wind rose 27.5% and offshore wind jumped 44.4% year over year.
- Solar output slipped about 5% and hydropower fell 21% because early 2026 was less sunny and drier than a year earlier.
- Power-sector gains have limits, since renewables provide about 20.8% of total energy use and Germany still plans new gas plants for guaranteed capacity alongside a coal exit in 2030 in the West and 2038 in the East.