BERLIN (special crosspondent) – Germany has reached a landmark clean energy milestone, with electricity generated from wind and solar power exceeding that produced from fossil fuels for the first time on an annual basis. This shift underscores the country’s accelerating efforts to transition its energy grid toward sustainable sources.

Renewable Energy Milestones

According to the Energy Institute, wind and solar energy accounted for 44 percent of Germany’s total electricity generation in 2025, while electricity produced from coal, oil, and natural gas made up approximately 43 percent. Energy experts describe the achievement as a significant success for Germany’s Energiewende (Energy Transition) strategy, which aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and expand the use of renewable energy sources.

Germany shut down its last nuclear power plants in 2023 and plans to phase out coal-fired power generation by 2038. The government is also targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, with plans to convert the remaining gas-fired power plants to run on green hydrogen in the future. Similar shifts toward sustainable infrastructure are being observed globally as nations explore new trade corridors and energy security strategies.

Policy and European Context

To accelerate the expansion of renewable energy, Germany has streamlined its permitting process, digitised approval procedures, and designated clean energy projects as being in the public interest, helping speed up their development. These administrative reforms are central to meeting the ambitious climate goals set by Berlin.

Germany’s achievement also reflects a broader shift across Europe. In 2025, wind and solar power together generated 30 percent of the European Union’s electricity, surpassing fossil fuels, which accounted for 29 percent of total power generation. While the resilience of energy economies remains a topic of analysis worldwide, Germany’s performance highlights the tangible progress of EU-wide decarbonization mandates.