Growth in renewable energy in 2023

Year of issue 2024
Date of issue 2024.01.05

The Bundesnetzagentur has released its preliminary figures on growth in renewable capacity in 2023. Renewable installed capacity increased by 17 gigawatts (GW) to a total of just under 170 GW. This represents a year-on-year increase of 12%. The increase is mainly accounted for by solar and wind.

"We have taken a large step forward, especially with regard to growth in solar capacity. Solar growth almost doubled compared with the previous year. These investments are helping to drive the energy transition forward. Last year was the first time Germany generated more than half of its electricity from renewables," said Klaus Müller, President of the Bundesnetzagentur. "With regard to onshore wind, we are not yet where we want to be. The large increase in approvals in 2023 gives me cause for optimism, though, and will enable stronger growth in capacity."

Solar

Growth in solar capacity in 2023 amounted to 14.1 GW, nearly double that in 2022. This was due to numerous private solar installations and a larger increase in ground-mounted and commercial rooftop solar capacity. Bavaria had the most new solar capacity in 2023, with 3.5 GW. At the end of 2023, installed solar capacity in Germany totalled 81.7 GW. This means that 19 GW of new capacity will be needed each year from now on to reach the target of 215 GW in 2030.

Most privately operated solar installations on buildings also have a battery storage system. In 2023, this was the case for about 70% of private installations.

The Bundesnetzagentur had about 260,000 plug-in balcony solar modules in its core energy market data register in 2023, three times as many as in 2022. The boom in balcony modules accounted for 1.5% (0.2 GW) of the total growth in solar capacity in Germany. The Bundesnetzagentur assumes that the number of such modules is actually higher as presumably not all modules have been registered.

Onshore wind

Growth in onshore wind capacity in 2023 was 2.9 GW higher than in the previous year. This figure comprises new capacity put into operation less capacity taken out of operation. Installed onshore wind capacity totalled 60.9 GW at the end of 2023. The target for 2030 is 115 GW of installed capacity. Germany will need 7.7 GW of new capacity each year to meet this target. Schleswig-Holstein had the most new capacity in 2023, with 1.1 GW. Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, the large states in the south of the country, together had about 0.08 GW of new wind capacity (Bavaria: 0.023 GW; Baden-Württemberg: 0.054 GW).

In 2023, 80% more approvals were issued for onshore wind farms than in the previous year. These approvals were for a total capacity of about 8 GW, which is expected to be implemented in the coming years.

Offshore wind

In 2023, one offshore wind farm with 27 wind turbines went into operation. The Arcadis Ost I wind farm is sited in the Baltic Sea and has a capacity of 0.3 GW. Growth in offshore wind capacity in 2023 was therefore similar to the previous year. Installed offshore wind capacity in the Baltic and North Seas now totals 8.5 GW.

Biomass

Growth in biomass in 2023 was low at 0.12 GW but double that in 2022. The growth was mainly accounted for by three new combined heat and power (CHP) plants, which produce useful heat as well as electricity. Installed biomass capacity now amounts to about 9 GW.

Core energy market data register

The Bundesnetzagentur's figures for 2023 are based on data from the core energy market data register. The figures for December were estimated. Final figures on growth in capacity in 2023 will be published at the end of January 2024 together with the Bundesnetzagentur's monthly figures at www.bundesnetzagentur.de/eegiz (in German).