Gas forms record 16% of German electricity sources as renewables drop

Natural gas provided a record 16.1% of electricity generation in Germany last year, official figures showed on Friday, as the share of renewable energies dropped slightly.

The Federal Statistical Office said gas produced 70.6 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2025, 10.2% more than in the previous year.

Solar power also surged to a record 16% share of total eletricity generation, with 70.1 billion kilowatt hours of electricity produced by photovoltaics, up 17.4% from 2024.

Wind remained the most important source of electricity, contributing 30% of total generation despite a slight decline in volume, while coal was second on 22.1%.

Germany intends to phase out coal-fired power generation by 2038 in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

While the previous government under former chancellor Olaf Scholz invested heavily in expanding renewable energy sources, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative-led administration has decided to build new gas-fired plants.

Energy Minister Katherina Reiche has argued that the move is necessary to secure the electricity supply when solar and wind power are insufficient.

According to an analysis by the state-owned development bank KfW, wind and solar power only fail to supply electricity on average for 15 days a year.