In the first half of 2024, renewable energies continue to increase their share of electricity generation in Germany, reaching a new record high and contributing around 61.5 percent of electricity generation. Including the third quarter of 2024, the share amounts to around 56 percent of electricity consumption and is based mainly on the generation of electricity from solar and wind energy, biomass and hydropower. It is around 3 percentage points higher than in the previous year, 2023. According to the latest evaluations, gross electricity generation from renewables increased by 8.3 percent to 217 billion kilowatt hours.

Although the electricity mix in Germany in 2024 consists mainly of renewable energies in every month, at around 53 to 59 percent, it cannot manage without fossil fuels such as coal and gas. However, the share of coal and gas fell significantly by around 10.5 percent compared to the same nine-month period of the previous year. Gross electricity generation from these two conventional energy sources fell to 149 billion kilowatt hours.

Despite the successes in the expansion of renewable energies, Germany is falling short of its potential. The inadequate nationwide expansion of the power distribution grid is quickly identified as a bottleneck for the further expansion of renewable energies. In addition, electricity storage capacities are urgently needed for grid stability. Wind and sun are volatile and, by their very nature, are not constantly available for energy generation.

The expansion of the electricity grids is not keeping pace with the expansion of renewable energies. Compared to other countries such as Denmark and Norway, Germany needs to better coordinate the measures. In Denmark and Norway, the expansion is progressing at a rapid pace, so that according to experts, the energy supply in these countries could be completely independent of fossil fuels as early as 2029.

In Great Britain, the overall situation is more similar to that in Germany. However, the expansion of the electricity grids is even further behind. It is not without reason that the new government recently announced a detailed 10-year strategy for developing the necessary infrastructure. In terms of grid stability, the British are one step ahead with BESS projects. The storage capacity is above the EU average. Again, this is due to the fact that the outdated network is groaning under the strain.

However, it should be noted that although these states have the same goal of getting by without fossil fuels as soon as possible, they have different political, economic and, for example, geological conditions. But even with favorable starting points, such as those Norway has created for itself, it remains to be seen whether the energy transition will actually be completed in around five years, as the oil lobby is also fighting for its future.

But it is not only the oil lobby that is fighting for its market share. Nuclear energy is also repeatedly coming into the focus of strategic considerations. While Germany has completed its nuclear phase-out for the time being, the UK is building two large reactors, Hinkley Point C, and Romania has planned the construction of mini-reactors in its energy strategy, which was made public on November 21, 2024, and has also reintroduced domestic uranium mining into its considerations.