Germany
Wind power overtook coal to become Germany's largest source of electricity in 2023
Germany relied on fossil fuels for 46% of its electricity in 2023. Its per capita emissions were above the global average.
Germany’s largest source of electricity is wind (27.2%), which overtook coal (26.8%) in 2023. Its share of wind and solar (39%) is three times the global average (13%) and similar to Spain (40%) and the Netherlands (41%).
Germany’s power sector emissions peaked in 2007 and have fallen significantly since then as coal-fired electricity generation more than halved. In 2000, coal generated 52% of the country’s electricity, but by 2023 this had fallen to 26.8%.
Germany aims for 75% renewable electricity by 2030, while the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions scenario sets out a global target of 60% renewable electricity by 2030.
Last updated: May 2024
Progress towards 1.5C power sector benchmarks
Germany
2000–2040
Data
