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Germany has achieved a historic milestone in its transition to clean energy.
In the first half of 2024, the country generated a record-breaking 65% of its electricity from renewable sources, according to a report by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE). This impressive figure marks a significant leap forward, with solar and wind leading the charge.
Wind power, Germany's traditional renewable leader, delivered 73.4 terawatt-hours (TWh) in the first half of the year, accounting for 34.1% of the total electricity mix. However, solar power is quickly catching up. Solar PV generation jumped 15% compared to the same period in 2023, reaching 32.4 TWh. This growth is further fuelled by a staggering 5 GW of new solar capacity added in just the first four months of 2024, compared to a mere 1 GW of new wind capacity.
This trend is set to continue, with Germany projected to reach a total deployed solar capacity of over 88 GW by the end of 2024. Solar PV is also expected to be the leading source of new clean power capacity across the entire European Union this year, with Germany at the forefront. The expansion of renewable energy sources has a direct impact on fossil fuel reliance. In the first half of 2024, the share of fossil fuel generation dropped from 39.6% to 35%. This decline is a testament to Germany's commitment to a greener future and aligns with a Europe-wide trend as energy prices stabilise following the shockwaves of the 2022 Ukraine conflict.
