Germany’s Renewable Energy Share Reaches 61.8% As Solar And Wind Set New Records In H1 2026

Germany generated 61.8 percent of its net public electricity from renewable energy sources during the first half of 2026, according to an analysis by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) based on data from the Energy Charts platform. Strong output from wind and solar power helped keep electricity prices relatively stable despite a sharp increase in natural gas prices linked to the conflict involving Iran.

Wind power recorded significant growth during the six-month period. Offshore wind generation rose from 11.4 terawatt-hours (TWh) in the first half of 2025 to a record 14.6 TWh, while onshore wind generation increased from 48.7 TWh to 52.8 TWh. As a result, wind power’s share of Germany’s net public electricity generation increased from 28.8 percent to 30 percent.

Solar power also reached a new milestone. Electricity generation from photovoltaic systems climbed to a record 43.2 TWh, up 10 percent from 39.3 TWh a year earlier. Across the European Union, photovoltaic generation also reached record levels and has increased by 254 percent since 2015.

Not all renewable sources showed growth. Hydropower generation declined slightly to 7.8 TWh from 8.1 TWh in 2025, marking its lowest level since 2015. Biomass generation also fell marginally to 17.9 TWh from 18.3 TWh. At the same time, electricity generation from fossil fuels, including natural gas, lignite, and hard coal, increased by 6 percent to 78.6 TWh. Even so, the overall share of renewables in Germany’s net public electricity generation remained broadly stable compared with the 61.3 percent recorded in the first half of 2025. The renewable share in total electricity load, which includes consumption and transmission losses, rose from 55 percent to a record 58.5 percent.

The growing contribution of wind and solar power is also changing electricity market dynamics. Germany experienced many hours during the first half of 2026 when day-ahead electricity prices were close to or below zero, as abundant renewable generation exceeded demand. Analysts said this highlights the increasing need for energy storage and greater system flexibility. Battery storage capacity increased from 25.4 GWh to 29.3 GWh during the period, with more large-scale battery systems commissioned in the first six months of 2026 than during all of 2025. However, Fraunhofer ISE said a significant storage gap remains, limiting the ability to shift surplus electricity to periods of lower renewable generation. The need for flexibility became particularly evident during a June heat wave, when cooling demand increased while some conventional power plants operated at reduced capacity, causing sharp evening price fluctuations.

Germany’s stronger renewable generation also reduced its dependence on electricity imports. Net imports fell to 1.3 TWh in the first half of 2026, compared with 9.6 TWh during the same period last year. The country imported electricity mainly from Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, and Norway, while exporting significant volumes to Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Poland.

Germany continued expanding its solar capacity, adding about 7 GW during the first half of 2026. Ground-mounted projects accounted for the largest share of new installations, while rooftop systems also contributed substantial additions. Total installed photovoltaic module capacity increased from 118 GW to 124.9 GW, and installed inverter capacity rose to 113.9 GW. However, researchers warned that proposed changes to Germany’s renewable energy law could reduce the profitability of smaller rooftop solar systems and discourage full use of available roof space.