Brief overview
- The Gross electricity generation According to preliminary figures, Germany's [missing word/value] in 2025 was around 509 TWh. That is significantly below the historical peak of 2017 (654 TWh).
- Renewable energies contributed around 292 TWh in 2025, or. a good 57 % to gross electricity generation, fossil fuels accounted for around 217 TWh (approx. 43 %). Since the final shutdown in April 2023, nuclear energy no longer makes a contribution.
- With about 110 TWh, wind energy is by far the most important energy source in the German electricity mix, ahead of photovoltaics (around 90 TWh) and natural gas (around 85 TWh).
- By 2030, gross electricity generation from renewable energy sources is expected to rise to around 600 TWh.
What is gross electricity generation (GEG)?
Gross electricity generation refers to the total electrical energy generated domestically at the generator terminals. It is therefore the amount of electricity that power plants and generation facilities actually produce, before the internal electricity consumption of the power plants themselves (e.g., for pumps, cooling, or flue gas cleaning) is deducted. This generally records all types of generation. These include conventional power plants (coal, natural gas, nuclear energy, petroleum), renewable energies (wind, photovoltaics, hydropower, biomass, geothermal energy), as well as pumped storage power plants and other energy sources such as the biogenic share of municipal waste.
BSE is therefore the pure supply side of the power system – in contrast to Gross electricity consumption, which depicts the demand side and additionally takes the foreign trade balance (import/export) into account.
Distinction from PEV, BEEV, and BSV
| Key figure | Designation | Reference |
| PEV | primary energy consumption | Total energy input before transformation, all sectors and energy carriers |
| BEEV | gross final energy consumption | Energy that actually reaches consumers, incl. energy-related self-consumption |
| BSV | gross electricity consumption | Exclusively the electricity sector: total generated and imported electricity before grid and conversion losses |
| BSE | gross electricity generation | Electricity sector only: domestically generated electricity volume, before own consumption of the power plants |
From 2003 to 2022, the BSE consistently exceeded the BSV—Germany was a net exporter of electricity, with an export surplus peaking at 52.5 TWh in 2017 (approximately 8 % of generation). Since 2023, the ratio has reversed. Since then, gross electricity production has been below gross electricity consumption, and Germany has been covering a small portion of its consumption through net imports. A detailed analysis of gross electricity consumption can be found in the Expert article on the BSV and the overall delimitation of all four key figures in the Review article on the German energy balance.
Development of gross electricity generation in Germany
| Year | BSE in TWh | Note |
| 1990 | 549,9 | |
| 2000 | 576,6 | |
| 2010 | 632,5 | |
| 2017 | 654,2 | All-time high |
| 2025 | 509,3 | Share of renewable energy: approximately 57 %; nuclear energy: 0 TWh |
Following a record year in 2017, gross electricity generation has fallen noticeably—a decline of approximately 22 % by 2025. This is primarily due to the gradual phase-out of coal, the complete shutdown of nuclear power plants in April 2023, and an overall decline or stagnation in electricity consumption resulting from energy efficiency measures and a weak industrial economy. At the same time, the composition of electricity generation has undergone a fundamental shift. While fossil fuels and nuclear energy almost completely dominated the electricity mix in 1990, renewable energy sources now constitute the largest segment of generation. In 2025, wind energy—at around 110 TWh—long ago surpassed lignite (still around 75 TWh, the lowest level since 1990) as the most important single energy source in the German electricity mix.
The 2025 generation mix was additionally characterized by a wind-weak first quarter and low precipitation—an example of how heavily the BSE is now dependent on weather conditions. In such phases, natural gas increasingly stepped in as a flexible capacity.
Regulatory framework: The 600 TWh target path for renewable generation
To achieve the EEG 2023 target of 80 % Renewable Energy To reach gross electricity consumption by 2030, annual gross electricity generation from renewable energy sources must rise to around 600 TWh. Starting from 292 TWh in 2025, this corresponds to more than a doubling within a few years. However, according to several market observers, wind energy expansion in 2025 lagged behind the target values required for this, while photovoltaic expansion exceeded expectations with record levels of around 17 GW of installed capacity in 2024. Parallel to the expansion of renewables, the complete phase-out of coal is legally mandated by 2038 at the latest.
Classification: Why BSE is the key metric for BESS and PV operators
Of the four energy balance metrics, gross electricity generation is the one with the most direct relevance for battery storage and PV projects.
- Growing volatility: With the increasing share of wind and PV in the BSE, the fluctuation range of power generation is increasing – from low-wind doldrums to sunny midday peaks with oversupply. Balancing precisely these fluctuations is the central task of battery energy storage systems.
- Displacement of conventional capacity: The decline of coal-fired and, prospectively, gas-fired power plants reduces the number of conventional, highly controllable generation units. The necessary flexibility for this must increasingly be generated elsewhere, for example through storage and demand-side management.
- Regional shifts: The rapid expansion of wind and PV systems is concentrated in certain regions, which increases the need for grid relief and local flexibility on-site.
FAQ on Gross Electricity Generation
What is the difference between gross electricity generation and net electricity generation?
Gross electricity generation covers the total amount of electricity generated at the generator terminals. For net electricity generation, the power plants' own energy consumption (e.g., for pumps and auxiliary equipment) is additionally subtracted – which is why it is always slightly lower.
What was the gross electricity generation in Germany in 2025?
According to preliminary figures, gross electricity generation in 2025 was around 509 TWh, of which around 292 TWh came from renewable energy sources.
Which energy source generates the most electricity in Germany?
In 2025, wind energy was the most important energy source in the German electricity mix at around 110 TWh, followed by photovoltaics (around 90 TWh) and natural gas (around 85 TWh).
Why has gross electricity generation fallen since 2017, even though more renewable energies have been added?
The decline is primarily due to the simultaneous loss of conventional generation capacity: nuclear energy (shutdown in April 2023) and coal-fired power plants were taken offline faster than renewable energies could fill the gap—a situation exacerbated by an overall stagnant to declining electricity consumption.
How much electricity does Germany need to generate from renewable energy sources by 2030 in order to achieve its targets?
To achieve the EEG target of 80 % of renewable energy as a share of gross electricity consumption, gross electricity generation from renewable energy sources must rise to around 600 TWh by 2030—more than double the 292 TWh projected for 2025.