AG Energiebilanzen Calls for Precise Reasoning
Renewable energy is reaching new highs in Germany—but how much progress has been made depends heavily on the benchmark used
June 19, 2026
Source: E & M powernews
The importance of renewables in Germany continues to grow. However, depending on the metric used, current data show varying degrees of progress toward meeting targets.
Renewable energy sources have further expanded their role in Germany’s energy supply. According to recent analyses by AG Energiebilanzen—which includes, among others, the BDEW and the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW)—their share of primary energy consumption exceeded the 20 percent mark for the first time as early as 2024. In 2025, the share rose to just under 21 percent, reaching a new record high. As a result, renewable energy is now Germany’s third-most important energy source after petroleum and natural gas, and at the same time the most significant domestic energy source.
In 2005, their share had been just over 5 percent. According to AG Energiebilanzen, growth was particularly strong between 2005 and 2012. After a period of slower growth, expansion picked up pace again starting in 2017. A weather-related decline in 2021 was offset in subsequent years.
A key indicator for European energy and climate policy is the share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption. This includes the final energy consumption of all consumers, including grid losses and self-consumption from energy generation. The European Union has set a target range of 42.5 to 45 percent for 2030. As part of its National Energy and Climate Plan, Germany has committed to reaching a share of 41 percent by 2030.
Gross electricity consumption is the reference value in the EEG
In 2024, Germany achieved a share of 22.5 percent of gross final energy consumption. In 2025, this figure rose to 23.8 percent. While this represented an increase of 1.3 percentage points compared to the previous year, it fell significantly short of the European interim target of 27.9 percent set for 2025. According to estimates by AG Energiebilanzen, further expansion of renewable energy will be necessary to meet the targets. In addition to the electricity sector, the use of renewable energy in the heating market will play a particularly important role.
The use of renewable energy continues to grow most dynamically in the electricity sector. The share of gross electricity consumption—the key target metric of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG)—reached a new high of 55.1 percent in 2025. The EEG calls for a share of 80 percent by 2030. However, the interpretation of this metric is influenced by the European internal electricity market and thus by electricity imports and exports. AG Energiebilanzen points out that the share of renewable energy in electricity fed into the grid—whether exported or imported from abroad—can, at best, be determined “on a model basis.”
If imports exceed exports on balance (net imports), the renewable energy share decreases because the total amount consumed increases, while the amount of electricity generated domestically from renewable sources remains the same. Conversely, if more electricity is exported than imported on balance (net export), the renewable energy share increases because the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources is based on a lower total domestic consumption.
An alternative approach compares electricity generation from renewable energy sources to total domestic electricity generation. Although this calculation does not comply with the legal requirements of the EEG, it reduces the impact of cross-border electricity trade on the metric. Accordingly, this results in a share of 57.2 percent for 2025. The difference from the EEG quota of 55.1 percent is attributable to a net import of approximately 19 TWh of electricity.
The analysis by AG Energiebilanzen shows that the assessment of how the expansion of renewable energy is progressing depends heavily on the reference value used. The working group cautions that anyone using figures to make arguments in this context would be well advised to specify this reference value in order to prevent misunderstandings and misinterpretations.
Author: Fritz Wilhelm
