Renewable energy’s share of electricity generation in Germany rose to 47% last year, from just over 42% in 2019, according to preliminary data from the country’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).
The rise in the share of clean power came despite a 5.9% fall in overall power output to 502.6 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) from 534.1 billion/kWh, Destatis said.
The fall was partially due to the lower electricity demand as a result of the lockdown to contain the corona pandemic in spring 2020, it added.
Wind power represented 24.6% of electricity output last year, up from 22.8% in 2019.
Destatis said electricity from conventional energy sources fell by 13.6% compared with the previous year to only 53.0%.
Coal’s share was down to 24.8% from 29.8% previously.