Germany's Q1 2026 electricity net export masks €142 million loss despite rising solar share

In the first quarter of 2026 Germany exported 17.9 TWh of electricity while importing 15.3 TWh, turning a net export of about 2.6 TWh – the first such surplus since late 2023. However, public market data show that export revenues (€1.60 billion) were lower than import costs (€1.74 billion), leaving a negative cost balance of roughly €141.6 million.

Photovoltaic installations generated 11.5 TWh, representing 9.1 % of Germany’s total electricity generation, while wind power contributed 34 % of output. The average day‑ahead wholesale price fell about 9 % year‑on‑year to €102.17 /MWh, staying below the average price in neighboring markets. The number of quarter‑hour periods with negative prices remained similar to the previous year, though extreme price spikes were fewer.

Thus, the headline figure of a net electricity export does not reflect the underlying economics: lower export prices and higher import prices resulted in a financial loss for the German power sector despite the growing share of solar generation.