More than 100 billion kWh of wind power in 2023: Wind energy is the most important energy source in Germany - decline in coal-fired power generation

More than 100 billion kWh of wind power in 2023: Wind energy is the most important energy source in Germany - decline in coal-fired power generation
© monticellllo / Adobe StockMünster (renewablepress) - In Germany, wind energy is by far the most important energy source in the electricity sector in the current year 2023. Today (19.10.2023) the mark of 100 billion kWh of wind power was already exceeded this year. Of this, around 83 billion kWh is accounted for by onshore wind energy and 17 billion kWh by offshore wind energy. This is the result of an evaluation of data from the transmission system operators by the Internationales Wirtschaftsforum Regenerative Energien (IWR).

The generation of electricity from coal in Germany has slumped by more than 40 billion kWh to 90 billion kWh since the beginning of the year compared to the same period last year. "Contrary to many forecasts, coal-fired power generation in 2023 has not increased so far, despite the nuclear phase-out in Germany, but has declined by more than 30 percent," said IWR head Dr Norbert Allnoch in Münster. So far this year, electricity generation from lignite has reached about 60 billion kWh (-22 billion kWh) and from hard coal about 30 billion (-19 billion kWh). Electricity generation from natural gas and renewable energies have increased.

Wholesale electricity prices in Germany have fallen back to the level of two years ago (summer 2021) following the turbulence caused by the massive outage of French nuclear power plants in 2021/2022 and the skyrocketing gas prices in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Reasons for the falling exchange electricity prices include lower gas prices, the return and recommissioning of failed French nuclear power plants, and the continued addition of renewable power plant capacity in Germany. For example, according to data from the Market Master Data Register at the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA), new wind and solar power plants with a capacity of 13,000 MW (13 GW) went into operation between January and September 2023 alone. Of this, solar energy accounts for around 10,300 MW and wind energy for around 2,700 MW.


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Caption: More than 100 billion kWh of wind power in 2023: Wind energy is the most important energy source in Germany - decline in coal-fired power generation
© monticellllo / Adobe Stock

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Caption: Wholesale electricity prices in Germany June 2021 - Sept 2023
© IWR


Münster, 19 October 2023


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