Germany has hit a historic milestone in its energy transition, with wind and solar power generating more electricity than fossil fuels for the first time in 2025. Analysis by Carbon Brief using Energy Institute data reveals that renewables produced 225 terawatt-hours (TWh), accounting for 44% of the total mix, while fossil fuels fell to 217 TWh (43%).

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Scaling the Energiewende toward 2030

This shift is the culmination of two decades of rapid expansion under the Energiewende framework. To maintain momentum, Germany aims for 115 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind capacity by 2030, having already approved a record 20.8 GW in 2025 alone. The broader roadmap targets an 80% renewable share of electricity consumption by 2030 and full economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2045.

The Nuclear Void and the Coal Dilemma

Germany's aggressive push for renewables is partly a necessity driven by its nuclear phase-out. While Chancellor Friedrich Merz has recently labeled the exit from nuclear power a "strategic mistake," his administration remains committed to avoiding conventional nuclear energy. The more immediate hurdle is coal; although the official deadline for its removal is 2038, current trajectories suggest Germany could phase it out significantly earlier.

Political Friction and Bridge Technologies

Transitioning the grid has sparked political tension, particularly with rising opposition from the AfD. To ensure stability, the government is legislating new gas-fired power plants as a temporary bridge. These facilities must be capable of converting to green hydrogen by 2045 to align with climate neutrality goals.

A Broader European Shift

Germany's achievement mirrors a wider trend across the European Union. In 2025, wind and solar also overtook fossil fuels at an EU-wide level. According to Ember, renewables provided a record 30% of EU power, while fossil fuels dropped to 29%, with coal generation hitting an all-time low of 9.2%.