Apprarently our German Members are leading the pack going Green in Europe? http://axjde.com/
Germany is continuing its “Energiewende” (energy transition) toward renewables, though it’s facing real-world hurdles, slowdowns, and pragmatic adjustments.
finance.yahoo.comCurrent Status (as of early 2026)
- Renewables dominate electricity: In 2025, renewables supplied ~55-59% of Germany’s electricity generation (around 257-260 TWh out of 438-499 TWh total, depending on the exact metric). Wind led (27-30%), followed by solar (16-19%, with strong growth). Fossils made up ~41%, mainly coal (22%) and gas (~13-16%). enerdata.net
- Progress is real: Renewables have grown steadily, with solar capacity up significantly (e.g., +16+ GW in recent years) and wind output rising in early 2026 (Q1 wind +27%). This has helped keep emissions trending down modestly. renewable-energy-industry.com
Germany aims for 80% renewables in electricity by 2030 (and higher later), with massive targets like 115 GW onshore wind, 215 GW solar, and offshore wind scaling up. It’s one of the world’s leaders in wind/solar deployment.
iclg.comKey Developments and Challenges
- Nuclear exit: Completed in 2023. This removed low-carbon baseload, which some argue prolonged coal/gas reliance temporarily, though renewables largely filled the gap without a big coal rebound. agora-energiewende.org
- Coal phase-out: Legally targeted for 2038 (earlier in some regions like 2030 in NRW). It’s progressing via markets—coal’s share dropped, and economics (high ETS carbon prices + renewables) could end it by ~2031-2032. Some plants stay in reserve for security. cleanenergywire.org
- Gas as bridge: New gas plants are planned for flexibility (backing up variable wind/solar), but with “hydrogen-ready” designs for later decarbonization. Recent energy crises (e.g., 2026 Iran-related price spikes) have revived debates on keeping coal longer temporarily. cleanenergywire.org
- Political shifts: Under Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government (post-2025), focus includes supply security, grid integration, and competitiveness alongside climate goals. Some targets softened for cost reasons; a new climate plan (March 2026) adds funding for wind/EVs but faces criticism for not going far enough. Emissions projections show 2030 targets at risk of slipping. reuters.com
- Broader issues: Grid bottlenecks, permitting delays, industrial competitiveness, and external shocks (Russia/Ukraine fallout, now Iran) slow full decarbonization. Total primary energy still has high fossil share (renewables ~20-25% overall, not just power). Emissions fell ~1.5% in 2025, but deeper cuts needed. climateactiontracker.org
Bottom line: Germany is “going green” in the power sector—renewables are central and expanding, coal is declining, and policy remains committed to net-zero by 2045. But it’s not a straight sprint: security of supply, costs, and integration challenges mean a pragmatic mix with gas backups and slower heat/transport transitions. It’s a mature but imperfect transition, not a full fossil exit yet. For the latest data, sources like Fraunhofer ISE, Agora Energiewende, and Destatis track it closely.
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