In the first half of 2025, Germany saw a slight drop in overall electricity generation from renewable sources compared to the same period in 2024, largely driven by weaker wind and hydro power output. Wind energy—both onshore and offshore—produced about 61 billion kWh, down from approximately 74 billion kWh in H1 2024. Similarly, hydroelectric generation dropped significantly (about 29%) due to reduced rainfall and low spring meltwater. On the other hand, solar photovoltaic (PV) output surged. PV generated about 47 billion kWh, marking roughly a 23‑30% year‑on‑year increase. Much of that growth is thanks to both expanded capacity (new installations) and above‑average sunlight hours since spring. PV has now become the third most important energy source in terms of share, overtaking natural gas. Despite the strong growth in PV, it hasn’t fully offset the drop in wind and hydro. Thus, while renewable sources still provided over 54% of Germany’s gross electricity consumption in H1 2025, that is slightly lower than in the comparable period. Additions of new onshore wind capacity accelerated somewhat (around 2.1 GW added), but offshore wind saw little or no new commissioning so far. Key Drivers and Technical Constraints: Several weather and environmental factors are behind the decline in wind and hydro generation. Weak wind conditions during what are normally windy months (especially February–April) significantly lowered wind power output. Also, low precipitation and lack of snowmelt impaired hydroelectric production. Photovoltaics benefitted from favorable conditions and strong policy momentum. The expansion of solar capacity continues apace, helped also by a record build‑out in 2024, and more sunlight hours in the spring led to higher yields. However, PV output is more predictable and less volatile than wind or hydro, so it offers a stabilizing effect—but it still depends heavily on daylight and weather. New installations of onshore wind have increased, but challenges remain: approvals, siting, and grid integration, especially for offshore wind, continue to lag. The drop in hydro underscores climate sensitivity: dry winters, changing precipitation patterns, and lack of snowmelt impact renewables beyond wind and solar. Implications and the Road Ahead: The mixed results in Germany’s renewable energy mix suggest several important implications: 1. Need for flexibility and storage: To manage variability, more battery storage, demand response, or other flexibility measures are required. 2. Diversified energy portfolio: Continuing a mix of sources (wind, solar, hydro, biomass) is important to reduce reliance on any single form. 3. Planning certainty and policy acceleration: Germany has ambitious renewable energy goals, but lagging achievement in some wind goals suggests bottlenecks in permitting, grid interconnection, or regulatory constraints. 4. Climate resilience: Changes in weather patterns (lighter winds, less precipitation, lower snowmelt) need to be incorporated into energy planning. The recent numbers emphasize both the progress and fragility of Germany’s energy transition. While solar’s growth is a strong positive signal of investment and policy effectiveness, it alone cannot carry the system through periods of low wind or dry water conditions. It signals that Germany must accelerate its investment in grid flexibility (storage, transmission, demand management), speed up wind/offshore deployment, and incorporate climate risks into system planning. Without those measures, the risk is that weather dips will more frequently erode renewable contribution, leading to greater reliance on fossil backup sources.