Electricity in Germany in 2023

In 2023, the electricity landscape in Germany features a promising majority of clean, low-carbon sources. Over 60% of electricity comes from low-carbon sources, with wind supplying about 30%, followed by solar and biofuels with close to 12% and 10% respectively, and lastly nuclear at just over 1%. However, even though these low-carbon sources dominate, fossil fuels still hold a significant portion of the electricity generation, making up over a third. The most prominent fossil fuel is coal, powering almost 25% of the country's electricity, while gas accounts for a bit over 10%. There are also imported electricity, making up close to 2% of the total, but it is unclear from the data whether this is sourced from low-carbon or fossil fuels.

Suggestions

As Germany seeks to increase the share of low-carbon electricity, lessons from other countries can be quite enlightening. Looking at the achievements of countries with similar geographical and political structures, an expansion of existing wind and solar technologies seems like a straightforward strategy, as these technologies are already responsible for a substantial part of the country's clean electricity. However, Germany could also consider taking cues from nations leading in nuclear energy. France, for example, generates two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear. Slovakia, Ukraine, Switzerland, Finland, and many others have more than a third of their electricity needs met by nuclear power. Adapting successful strategies from these countries to the German context could significantly increase low-carbon energy production.

History

The history of Germany's low-carbon electricity generation reveals a long-standing reliance on nuclear energy until the early part of the 21st century. The 70s and 80s witnessed a steady increase in nuclear power production, with electricity generation from this source peaking in the middle of the 80s. However, with the turn of the century, a significant shift occurred. Against a backdrop of political and public opposition, nuclear power generation plunged after 2007, with a sharp decline continuing into the second decade. This trend opened an opportunity for wind power to fill in the gap, and indeed, wind electricity generation has seen a steady increase particularly from 2011. In the current year of 2023, data indicates a bleak picture for nuclear with a decrease of about 30%, while increases are witnessed for wind and hydropower.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Maximum Imports

Data Sources