The expansion of renewable energy in Germany is making progress, and its share of electricity generation is growing, but the pace is still too slow. There is no guarantee that the expansion targets will be met. “This makes it all the more important to stick to these targets and step up the pace,” comments Andreas Ehrbar, Chief Operating Officer of the aream Group.

Good news from the Federal Statistical Office: of the 230.6 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity generated in Germany in the first half of 2026, 59.1 per cent came from renewable energy sources. In the first half of 2025, the figure was just 58 per cent. Electricity fed into the grid from renewable sources grew by 6.5 per cent, outpacing the growth in total electricity production (+4.5 per cent). “This is encouraging, but it is not enough,” explains Ehrbar.

In the case of photovoltaics, too, the current momentum is too weak to meet the rising expansion targets by 2030. Installed capacity is still ahead of the expansion trajectory, but the lead is shrinking. According to the German Institute for Economic Research, the rate of expansion was recently only just under 80 per cent of the pace required in future, down from around 90 per cent in the previous half-year. Onshore wind power also continued to grow far too slowly. Long lead times and hesitant investment are jeopardising the achievement of these targets.

“Whilst technological development is progressing, the framework conditions are anything but stable,” said Ehrbar. “However, in the interests of climate protection and, above all, energy independence from non-European countries, policymakers must create certainty here to enable rapid, subsidy-free expansion.”
The German solar plants in the aream portfolio suffered from disruptions and curtailments totalling around 1,634 MWh in August, for which compensation will be paid. Including curtailments, 99 per cent of the target was achieved; excluding curtailments, the target achievement rate stood at 74 per cent. Production at the Spanish plants remained stable; however, 1,314 MWh was lost due to curtailments, for which no compensation will be paid. The target achievement rate was 65 per cent; including curtailments, it stood at 91 per cent due to below-average irradiation levels. In Italy, severe voltage fluctuations in the electricity grid repeatedly caused outages and malfunctions in transformers and inverters. Nevertheless, 98 per cent of the target was achieved.

Overall, production at the German wind farms in the aream portfolio remained stable, despite highly variable wind conditions across different regions. Curtailment resulted in a loss of 800 MWh, although this will be compensated. The target achievement rate for August was around 96 per cent; since the start of the year, the figure has stood at around 76 per cent.