Germany renewable power reaches 58% of electricity demand in H1 2026

Renewable sources generated 58 % of Germany’s electricity in the first half of 2026, the highest share ever recorded for a German first half. The increase was driven mainly by wind power, which rose 7.0 % on land and 28.3 % offshore compared with the wind‑weak previous period. Solar output grew 3.7 % and biomass 0.6 %, while hydro fell 7.7 % due to reduced rainfall. ZSW chief Frithjof Staiß said, “The higher share of renewables makes us more independent from fossil‑fuel imports and more resilient to energy‑price shocks.”

Across the European Union, renewable electricity accounted for about 47 % of total power generation in 2025, according to Eurostat provisional data. Wind, solar and other renewables produced 1,326 TWh, a slight 0.5 % decline from 2024, offset by higher solar output. Fossil fuels supplied roughly 30 % of EU electricity and nuclear 23 %. Coal consumption continued to fall, reaching its lowest levels since 1990, while gas production and imports rose modestly.