Renewable Energy Capacity in Germany Reaches 190 Gigawatts in 2024
The installed capacity of renewable energy systems in Germany has increased by nearly 20 gigawatts to a total of almost 190 gigawatts in 2024, according to the Federal Network Agency. This represents a 12% increase compared to the previous year.
Solar and wind energy are the main drivers of this development. The installation of solar power capacity in 2024 was 16.2 gigawatts, with two-thirds of this being installed on roofs or at buildings and the rest on larger areas. Bavaria installed the most solar power capacity in 2024, at 4.0 gigawatts, and the largest solar park in Germany, with a capacity of 162 megawatts, was commissioned in Saxony in the spring of 2024. The total installed solar capacity in Germany at the end of 2024 was 99.3 gigawatts.
The onshore wind power capacity installed in 2024 was 2.5 gigawatts, which is lower than the previous year’s figure. This figure takes into account the decommissioning of old wind farms, with nearly 0.7 gigawatts of capacity being permanently shut down. New, more powerful wind farms are often built in their place as part of the repowering process. The total installed wind power capacity at the end of 2024 was 63.5 gigawatts, and it is expected to reach 115 gigawatts by 2030.
Seventy-three offshore wind turbines were put into operation between May and September 2024, including the Baltic Eagle and Gode Wind parks in the Baltic and North Seas, respectively. A total of 0.7 gigawatts of capacity was brought online, which is more than twice the amount installed in the previous year. The total installed offshore wind capacity is now 9.2 gigawatts.
The installation of biomass power plants remained at the same level as the previous year, at 110 megawatts. Two large biogas combined heat and power plants, each with an electrical and thermal capacity of 20 megawatts, were commissioned in the Hannover region, and a similar plant was converted from coal to biogas in Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg. A total of around 9 gigawatts of biomass capacity is now in operation.
“Energies from renewable sources are now taking on the main task of generating electricity in Germany – measured by the total electricity generation in Germany, 254.9 terawatt-hours or almost 60% is accounted for by renewable energy sources” said Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Green Party). At the same time, as little coal is being used for power generation as has not been the case in decades.
“The boom in photovoltaic installations is continuing” said Klaus Müller, President of the Federal Network Agency. The installation capacity in 2024 was once again above the previous record year of 2023. These investments are driving the energy transition forward. “I am optimistic about the onshore wind farm approvals, with nearly 15 gigawatts of capacity being granted in 2024. This will pay off in the form of increasing installation figures in the coming years.