The expansion of wind and solar energy in Germany is still on a growth course after the first seven months of the year. This is the result of the first analysis of data from the market master data register kept by the Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA) by Internationales Wirtschaftsforum Regenerative Energien (IWR)in Münster.
Münster, Germany – The expansion of wind and solar energy in Germany is still on a growth course after the first seven months of the year. This is the result of the first analysis of data from the market master data register kept by the Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA) by Internationales Wirtschaftsforum Regenerative Energien (IWR) in Münster.
In Germany, the wind and solar energy markets are developing with a high dynamic in the current year. From January to July 2023 alone, wind energy and solar plants with a combined capacity of just over 10,000 MW (10,006 MW) have gone into operation (Jan – July 2022: 5,426 MW). This is an increase of 84.4 percent compared to the same period last year. With the new wind energy and solar plants, the expansion level of the entire previous year (full year 2022: 10,213 MW wind and solar capacity) is almost reached in Germany after only seven months.
January to July 2023: 593,000 new solar installations with more than 7,900 MW
The largest growth driver in Germany continues to be solar energy. From January to July 2023, around 593,000 new solar plants with a capacity of 7,927 MW have already been newly connected to the grid and have been producing electricity since then (Jan – July 2022: 198,200 plants with 4,239 MW). Overall, the number of electricity-producing solar systems in Germany climbs to around 3.3 million, with installed solar capacity currently reaching just under 75,500 MW.
“The high solar growth vividly shows that the energy transition in Germany has reached the people and has become a participatory project,” said IWR Director Dr. Norbert Allnoch in Münster, referring to the figures. The new Solarparket I of the Federal Government with its many facilitations will further accelerate this trend, Allnoch added.
The German state ranking “solar energy additions 2023” leads (as of the end of July 2023) Bavaria with around 1,980 MW of new PV capacity in first place, ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia (1,340 MW), Baden-Württemberg (1,060 MW), Lower Saxony (740 MW) and Brandenburg (610 MW).
Capacity of new wind turbines grows by 75 percent in first seven months
The German wind energy market can also continue to catch up compared to the same period last year due to larger and more powerful turbines. From January to July 2023, around 420 new wind turbines with a capacity of 2,080 MW went into operation, based on the analysis of the market master data register. Compared to the same period last year, this is a remarkable 75.2 percent increase in wind capacity (Jan – July 2022: 1,187 MW). Of the total capacity, 1,850 MW is accounted for by onshore wind energy (Jan – July 2022: 1,178 MW) and around 230 MW by offshore wind energy (Jan – July 2022: 9 MW).
The German state ranking “wind energy additions onshore 2023” continues to be led (as of end of July 2023) by Schleswig-Holstein with approx. 725 MW of new wind power capacity in first place, ahead of Lower Saxony (308 MW), North Rhine-Westphalia (232 MW) and Brandenburg (176 MW).
IWR forecast 2023 confirmed: more than 15,000 MW new RE capacity in Germany – 20 billion kWh more electricity annually
For 2023 as a whole, the IWR forecast remains unchanged, according to which new wind and solar capacity connected to the grid in Germany could reach over 15,000 MW (15 GW). According to this, the additional electricity generation from wind and solar additions alone in 2023 amounts to approximately 20 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually.
Note: The data evaluation of the market master data register at the BNetzA reflects the status as of 15.08.2023 and represents a snapshot. Statistical changes (also retroactive) are possible at any time due to individual subsequent registrations of plants or corrections to the plant register by the BNetzA. The uncertainties do not lead to changes in the trend statements.
