Germany’s Renewable Energy Capacity Up 11 % in 2025

Germany increased its clean energy capacity in 2025, with renewable energy installations rising by about 11 % compared with the year before. This growth reflects continued expansion of solar panels and wind turbines across the country. 

According to Germany’s Federal Network Agency, the total installed renewable capacity reached around 210 gigawatts — a measure of how much clean electricity the country can produce. Most of this growth came from solar power and onshore wind energy. 

Solar Power Leads the Growth

Solar energy accounted for more than half of Germany’s total installed renewable capacity in 2025, reaching about 117 gigawatts. The country added 16.4 gigawatts of new solar capacity last year, including many rooftop systems and large solar parks. 

The southern state of Bavaria was a key area of expansion, leading the nation with around 4.5 gigawatts of new solar added. Small solar installations, sometimes called “balcony power plants”, also grew in popularity and made up about 3.2 % of newly added solar capacity.

Wind Power Also Expands

Wind energy — especially onshore wind turbines — also contributed significantly to Germany’s renewable growth in 2025. New land-based wind installations added 4.6 gigawatts, well above the 2.6 gigawatts added the year before. 

With this increase, Germany’s onshore wind capacity now stands at about 68.1 gigawatts. The government has set a target of 115 gigawatts by 2030, which will require faster expansion in future years to meet climate and energy goals. 

Other Renewable Sources

Alongside solar and onshore wind, offshore wind and biomass also help Germany’s energy transition, though their growth rates are slower:

• Offshore wind has been growing, especially in the North Sea, but expansion remains modest compared with onshore wind.
• Biomass capacity has stayed largely steady, contributing a smaller share of clean electricity.

Despite this, Germany’s overall renewable capacity keeps rising as the country works to shift away from fossil fuels like coal and gas.

Clean Electricity in Germany

Renewables are also playing a larger role in the electricity mix — the total power the country generates and uses:

• In the third quarter of 2025, almost two-thirds (64 %) of Germany’s public grid electricity came from renewables like wind, solar, water and biomass.
• This shows how clean power is becoming the backbone of Germany’s energy system — even as weather and demand change.

Germany aims to source 80 % of total electricity consumption from renewables by 2030, a goal that will need continued expansion of wind, solar and storage technologies.

Challenges Ahead

While capacity is growing, experts say there are challenges:

• The pace of onshore and offshore wind expansion needs to speed up to meet 2030 targets.
• Streamlining approval and grid connection processes could help build more renewable projects faster.
• Investments in battery storage and grid upgrades will help balance wind and solar output, especially when weather and demand vary.

Bottom Line

In 2025, Germany increased its renewable energy capacity by about 11 %, reaching roughly 210 GW overall. Solar power led the gains with more than half of total capacity, and onshore wind saw strong growth too. Renewables now supply a growing share of Germany’s electricity, helping the country move toward its climate goals and a cleaner power system.