Photovoltaics to surpass lignite and natural gas in 2025

In 2025, solar power plants generated more electricity in Germany than ever before. While lignite contributed around 14 percent to the electricity mix, natural gas accounted for 16 percent – and photovoltaics (PV) contributed about 18 percent. Wind energy was the most important source of electricity generation with a share of around 27 percent. This was calculated and announced by the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) based on data from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.

In total, there are now 5.5 million photovoltaic systems in Germany. They generated 87 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2025, compared to 72 TWh in 2024. However, BSW-Solar warns that the expansion is losing momentum. To avoid jeopardizing climate goals and the industry with over 100,000 employees, there must be no deterioration of the regulatory framework. To achieve the legally anchored PV expansion target of 215 gigawatts/peak (GWp) for the year 2030, an annual expansion of around 20 GWp is necessary. According to preliminary forecasts, however, 17.5 GWp were added in 2025, compared to 17.7 GWp in 2024. The current total PV capacity is therefore 118 GWp, just over half.

Photovoltaic expansion speed is decreasing

However, the distribution across individual photovoltaic market segments shows significant differences. The capacity of ground-mounted solar parks increased by 8 GWp, corresponding to 25 percent. However, the expansion on private homes with 5.2 GWp (an increase of 25 percent, compared to 6.8 GWp expansion in 2024) and on commercial roofs with only 3.7 GWp (5 percent more, 2024: 3.9 GWp) declined. The capacity of balcony power plants ("plug-in solar devices") increased by 25 percent in 2025, with an additional 0.5 GWp (2024: 0.4 GWp).

BSW-Solar appeals to the federal government not to further worsen the funding conditions and to remove market barriers. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche had announced further cuts in funding for new solar roofs in the autumn, after restrictions had already been implemented at the beginning of 2025.

Globally, renewable energies have now overtaken coal as an energy source. "Science" named the boom in renewable energies in December as the "Breakthrough of the Year 2025". To ensure that the energy transition in Germany is successful, the Federal Network Agency has also approved more than 2000 kilometers of new "electricity highways" in 2025.

(dmk)