Germany’s power system is now running on renewables at scale, with 257 GW of installed renewable electricity capacity and a 7.7 GW surge in solar added in 2023, yet hard coal and lignite still produced 10,985 GWh in the same year. At the same time, energy demand and carbon pressures are shifting, with power sector CO2 emissions around 263 Mt in 2023 and Germany’s energy intensity falling by 1.9% in 2023. That mix of momentum and inertia makes the headline shares only the start, especially when you compare wind and solar output to coal’s continued role in Germany’s generation mix.
Key Takeaways
- 46% of Germany’s electricity generation came from renewables in 2023, including wind, solar, biomass and hydro
- 48.4% of Germany’s electricity generation came from renewables in 2022 (wind, solar, biomass and hydro)
- 22.4% of Germany’s electricity generation came from wind in 2023
- 219.0 TWh gross final energy consumption in Germany in 2023
- Germany’s energy intensity fell by 1.9% in 2023 (primary energy per GDP)
- Germany’s space heating demand accounted for about 20% of total energy use (2021 estimate)
- Germany’s share of renewables in gross final consumption was 20.9% in 2022
- Germany’s share of energy from renewables in transport was 5.7% in 2022
- Germany’s power sector CO2 emissions were 263 Mt in 2023
- Germany’s installed renewable electricity capacity reached 257 GW in 2023
- Germany added 7.7 GW of solar PV capacity in 2023
- Germany’s wind installed capacity was about 76 GW by end-2023 (onshore + offshore)
- Germany’s average industrial electricity price (medium-voltage, annual) was €0.266/kWh in 2023
- Germany’s gas import price averaged €35/MWh in 2023 (seasonal average)
- Germany’s coal-fired power remained expensive during 2022 volatility; annual average day-ahead price reached about €270/MWh in 2022
In 2023 renewables drove Germany’s power mix, cutting coal while electricity generation totaled 1,012 TWh.
Related reading
01 · Category
Generation Mix11 stats
01
46% of Germany’s electricity generation came from renewables in 2023, including wind, solar, biomass and hydro[1]
02
48.4% of Germany’s electricity generation came from renewables in 2022 (wind, solar, biomass and hydro)[1]
03
22.4% of Germany’s electricity generation came from wind in 2023[1]
04
12.8% of Germany’s electricity generation came from solar in 2023[1]
05
1,012 TWh electricity generation in Germany in 2023 (all sources)[1]
06
10,985 GWh net electricity generation from hard coal and lignite in Germany in 2023[1]
07
Germany’s coal generation share fell to 20.3% of electricity in 2023[1]
08
Germany’s electricity from hard coal was 17.1% of generation in 2023 (share)[1]
09
Germany’s electricity from lignite was 3.2% of generation in 2023 (share)[1]
10
Germany’s electricity generation from natural gas was 7.8% of generation in 2023 (share)[1]
11
Germany’s electricity generation from nuclear was 0.0% in 2023[1]
Interpretation
Generation Mix Interpretation
Germany’s generation mix has shifted strongly toward renewables, with their share rising to 46% in 2023 and solar and wind providing 12.8% and 22.4% respectively, while coal has dropped to 20.3% and nuclear is effectively at 0%.
02 · Category
Energy Demand9 stats
01
219.0 TWh gross final energy consumption in Germany in 2023[2]
02
Germany’s energy intensity fell by 1.9% in 2023 (primary energy per GDP)[2]
03
Germany’s space heating demand accounted for about 20% of total energy use (2021 estimate)[3]
04
Germany’s primary energy consumption was 2,488 TWh in 2023[2]
05
Germany’s electricity final consumption was 230.7 TWh in 2023[2]
06
Germany’s final energy consumption decreased to 2,143 TWh in 2023[2]
07
Germany’s district heating demand was 393 TWh in 2023[4]
08
Germany’s heat demand in buildings accounted for 13.8% of final energy consumption (2019 estimate)[3]
09
Germany’s direct household final energy consumption for heating was 470 TWh in 2022[2]
Interpretation
Energy Demand Interpretation
Germany’s energy demand is still high but is moving in the right direction, with primary energy use at 2,488 TWh in 2023 and primary energy per GDP falling by 1.9% that year, alongside large heating loads such as 20% for space heating and 393 TWh for district heating in 2023.
03 · Category
Emissions & Climate8 stats
01
Germany’s share of renewables in gross final consumption was 20.9% in 2022[2]
02
Germany’s share of energy from renewables in transport was 5.7% in 2022[2]
03
Germany’s power sector CO2 emissions were 263 Mt in 2023[5]
04
Germany’s renewables share in electricity was 50.8% in 2022[1]
05
Germany’s nitrous oxide emissions were 0.04 Mt in 2022 (reported)[6]
06
Germany’s power sector CO2 emissions were about 269 Mt in 2022[5]
07
Germany’s coal-related power emissions were 68.1 Mt CO2 in 2023 (power sector)[5]
08
Germany’s CO2 emissions per kWh from electricity generation were 220 gCO2/kWh in 2023[5]
Interpretation
Emissions & Climate Interpretation
In Germany’s Emissions and Climate story, power sector CO2 emissions stayed around 269 Mt in 2022 and fell to about 263 Mt in 2023 while renewables surged to 50.8% of electricity in 2022, with coal still responsible for 68.1 Mt in 2023 and electricity generation emitting just 220 gCO2 per kWh.
More related reading
04 · Category
Capacity & Grid8 stats
01
Germany’s installed renewable electricity capacity reached 257 GW in 2023[5]
02
Germany added 7.7 GW of solar PV capacity in 2023[3]
03
Germany’s wind installed capacity was about 76 GW by end-2023 (onshore + offshore)[5]
04
Germany’s offshore wind capacity was 8.8 GW by end-2023[5]
05
Germany’s solar installed capacity was about 88 GW by end-2023[5]
06
Germany had about 111 GW of hydroelectric capacity by end-2023[5]
07
Germany’s TSOs planned 10,000 MW of electricity storage grid connection capacity by 2030 (sum across storage projects)[7]
08
Germany had 45,000 km of overhead transmission lines (HV) as of 2023[8]
Interpretation
Capacity & Grid Interpretation
Germany’s Capacity and Grid picture is rapidly scaling up renewables and the transmission backbone, with installed renewable capacity hitting 257 GW in 2023 and 45,000 km of overhead HV lines, while the grid is also gearing for storage connections totaling 10,000 MW by 2030.
05 · Category
Power Prices & Costs7 stats
01
Germany’s average industrial electricity price (medium-voltage, annual) was €0.266/kWh in 2023[5]
02
Germany’s gas import price averaged €35/MWh in 2023 (seasonal average)[9]
03
Germany’s coal-fired power remained expensive during 2022 volatility; annual average day-ahead price reached about €270/MWh in 2022[5]
04
Germany spent €23.6 billion on energy subsidies in 2022 (energy crisis measures)[2]
05
Germany’s renewable energy support costs were €21.0 billion in 2022 (EEG surcharge costs)[10]
06
Germany’s 2022 energy crisis support package allocated €200 billion (economic stabilization fund measures)[11]
07
Germany’s average renewable support payments (EEG) amounted to €26.5 billion in 2022[7]
Interpretation
Power Prices & Costs Interpretation
In Germany’s power prices and costs, industrial electricity averaged €0.266 per kWh in 2023 while the energy crisis years drove much higher generation costs, with coal-fired day-ahead prices reaching about €270 per MWh in 2022 and subsidies and renewable support totaling tens of billions, including €23.6 billion in crisis measures and €21.0 billion in EEG support during 2022.
06 · Category
Industry Trends5 stats
01
Germany installed 14.3 GW of renewables in 2023 (wind + solar additions)[5]
02
Germany’s target for renewable energy capacity is 80% of electricity by 2030[12]
03
Germany’s solar PV market added 6.9 GW in Q4 2023 alone (quarterly installs)[5]
04
Germany reduced coal capacity by 2.1 GW between 2020 and 2022 (retirements)[5]
05
Germany’s district heating share from renewables reached 23% in 2023 (estimate)[3]
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Germany’s industry trend is accelerating renewables at scale, adding 14.3 GW in 2023 and pushing toward an 80% share of electricity by 2030 while cutting coal by 2.1 GW between 2020 and 2022.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Megan Gallagher. (2026, February 13). Germany Energy Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/germany-energy-industry-statistics
MLA
Megan Gallagher. "Germany Energy Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/germany-energy-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Megan Gallagher. 2026. "Germany Energy Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/germany-energy-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
12 sources cited across this report