Germany's Q1 2026 electricity generation leans heavily on renewables

In the first quarter of 2026 Germany produced 126.6 billion kWh of electricity, 53.3 % of which came from renewable sources. Renewable generation rose 13.9 % year‑on‑year to 67.5 billion kWh, driven mainly by wind power, which increased 28.8 % to 42.8 billion kWh and accounted for 33.8 % of total output. Conventional generation fell 1.8 % to 59.1 billion kWh, with coal down 5.1 % and gas slightly up. Germany’s electricity trade also shifted: imports dropped 15.5 % while exports rose 20.4 %, giving the country a net export surplus of 3.1 billion kWh – the first quarterly net export since Q4 2023.

In the state of Thuringia, power producers injected 2.567,5 GWh into the grid in Q1 2026, a 7.2 % decline from the previous year. Renewable sources supplied 59.4 % of the total, with wind turbines contributing 56.7 % of renewable output (865.9 GWh). Biomass added 302.0 GWh and photovoltaic plants 309.7 GWh, although PV output fell 5.1 % due to weather conditions. Conventional generation fell 16.5 %, with natural gas remaining the largest non‑renewable source.