Germany sets renewable power record in 2022, but is off-track for 2030 target

Germany is set to produce a record 256 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity from renewable sources this year, but the amount is still insufficient to put it on track to its 2030 targets, writes the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) in a press release. Preliminary data by the Working Group on Renewable Energy Statistics (AGEE-Stat) show that sunny weather helped boost solar PV production 23 percent compared to 2021, while wind power production also increased. However, to stay on track to reaching about 600 TWh by 2030 – or 80 percent of total power consumption – renewables would have had to produce around 270 TWh this year.

Overall, renewables will have produced 46 percent of German power consumption in 2022 (up from 41% in 2021), UBA forecast. Germany saw the highest renewables share in electricity use to date in 2020 at 45.2 percent. UBA head Dirk Messner said the focus must be on expanding onshore wind power. Only if the right groundwork is laid, “is there hope of achieving climate goals and overcoming dependence on Russian natural gas and fossil raw materials,” he added.

Shortly after taking office, the German coalition government put into motion one of the largest reform efforts on renewable energy and efficiency the country has seen. Russia’s war in Ukraine and the coinciding energy crisis have prompted the economy and climate ministry to present many amendments to existing laws and funding schemes much faster than planned. These are mainly geared towards boosting the country's renewable energy capacity, especially onshore wind, but also to accelerate grid planning and the development of offshore wind connections, and to make building stock more efficient. Many of the reforms have already been decided in parliament during 2022. AGEE-Stat is made up of experts from various federal ministries and agencies and consolidates data on the development of renewable energy in Germany.