Germany increased energy consumption by 5.5% in the first quarter due to weaker renewables

Primary energy consumption in Germany rose by 5.5% year on year to 3 151 PJ in the first quarter of this year. This was due to low electricity generation from wind and hydropower plants, which was replaced mainly by fossil-fuel-fired sources. The international news website Clean Energy Wire reported, citing data from the AG Energiebilanzen (AGEB) association.

An analysis by AGEB showed that electricity generation from renewable sources in Germany fell by 3.2% in the first three months of this year, while generation from hard coal-fired power plants rose by 5% and from lignite-fired plants by as much as 6.7%.

The steepest decline was recorded in electricity generation from wind power plants, which fell by around 30%. Year on year, electricity generation from hydropower plants also fell by almost a quarter. The drop in wind and hydropower generation was partly offset by an increase in solar power generation, which supplied 24% more electricity to the grid year on year.

"The lower efficiency of thermal power plants compared with renewable energy sources led to an increase in primary energy consumption," the association said.

Higher consumption of fossil fuels led to a year-on-year increase in CO2 emissions in Germany's energy sector of 7%, equivalent to around 11 million tonnes.

AGEB researchers added that, besides lower electricity generation from renewable sources, colder weather in February also contributed to the rise in primary energy consumption. If February's weather had been similar to that in 2024, the year-on-year increase in CO2 emissions in the first quarter would have been roughly half as large.