Germany's solar power set to overtake lignite in 2025

Germany's solar power output is expected to surpass electricity generation from lignite for the first time this year, according to the German Solar Industry Association (BSW).

The group forecasts that new solar systems with a combined capacity of 17.5 gigawatts will be connected to the grid in 2025. With lignite-fired power generation just slightly ahead of solar last year, the trend points toward a changing energy mix.

"Clean solar power will likely overtake lignite in Germany's domestic electricity production in 2025," said Carsten Körnig, chief executive of BSW.

According to data from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), lignite-fired power plants produced 72.8 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity in 2024, while solar systems generated 72.6 TWh. That translated into a 15.61% share for lignite in German net electricity production, compared to 15.57% for solar.

BSW expects strong growth in plug-in solar devices, otherwise known as balcony power plants, although these still account for only around 1% of Germany's total electricity production. Overall, the country now operates solar systems with a combined installed capacity of around 105 gigawatts, according to BSW estimates.