Umweltbundesamt
Click to enlargeUp-to-date and quality controlled data on the development of renewable energies in Germany are an important basis for the evaluation of Germany’s energy transition. The Working Group on Renewable Energy Statistics (AGEE-Stat) provides these data for international reporting obligations as well the interested public.
The “Energiewende” – Germany’s transition towards a secure, environmentally friendly, and economically successful energy future – includes a large-scale restructuring of the energy supply system towards the use of renewable energy in all sectors. While the switch towards renewables in the electricity sector has been very successful so far, the development in other sectors has been less dynamic.
The progress of the energy transition can be seen in growing shares of renewable energies in the electricity, heat and transport sector. On this webpage the Working Group on Renewable Energy Statistics (AGEE-Stat) provides up-to-date insights into the current developments of renewables in these sectors as well as their contribution to reduce emissions. Additionally, our “Monthly and Quarterly Reports” (in German only) provide an insight into the development of renewables in the current year.
Renewable energies have undergone constant growth in Germany. Their share in gross final energy consumption reached 21.6 percent in 2023 (calculated in accordance with EU directive (2018/2001)). The electricity sector is the main driver behind this development with renewables already providing 52.5 percent of electricity consumption in the year 2023.
While in the year 2000 renewables accounted for 6.3 percent of electricity demand only, its share has been growing significantly over the past years, exceeding 10 percent in the year 2005 and 25 percent in the year 2013. In 2023 renewable energy sources provided 273 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and account for 52.5 percent of German electricity demand. With wind power being by far the most important energy source in the German electricity mix.
Renewables’ share for heating and cooling purposes has risen from 4.4 per cent in 2000 to 17.7 percent in 2023. Main energy source in this sector remains biomass (solid, liquid and gaseous), still providing 75 percent of all renewable heat in 2023. Since the early 2000s, heat generated by solar thermal plants and heat pumps grows with increasing speed now providing now about 18 percent of renewable heat. The remaining share of approximately 7 percent comes from the renewable fraction of waste.
The transport sector holds the lowest share of renewable energy sources. In 2000 less than one percent of final energy consumption for transport purposes was derived from renewable energy sources. This share grew to 7.5 percent in 2023. Main renewable sources being biodiesel, bioethanol and a growing share of renewable electricity.
The use of renewables has expanded significantly in Germany in recent decades. The German Environmental Agency calculates that in 2023 around 250 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents were avoided through the use of renewables. These emissions would otherwise have been generated through fossil fuels in the electricity, heating and transport sectors.
The UBA’s motto, For our environment (“Für Mensch und Umwelt”), sums up our mission pretty well, we feel. In this video we give an insight into our work.
