Europe’s electricity mix is changing
In the first half of 2025, solar power generation reached new highs across Europe, especially in Germany. At the same time, a windless spring led to a decline in wind power figures. Despite growing photovoltaic output, the share of renewable energies in German net electricity generation fell slightly. European electricity trading and price trends also reflect the new reality on the energy market.
Germany produced around 40 terawatt hours of solar power between January and June 2025, an increase of 30 per cent compared to the same period last year. France, Belgium, Denmark and Poland also recorded growth in photovoltaics. The expansion is having an impact, but the parallel lull in wind power weighed on the overall balance. At 60.3 TWh, wind power generation was around 18% down on the previous year. As a result, the share of renewable energies in net public electricity generation in Germany fell slightly to 60.9% (2024: 65.1%).
Europe-wide trend with regional differences
Within the EU, combined electricity generation from wind and solar fell slightly to 344.4 TWh in the first half of 2025, compared to 358.1 TWh in the previous year. The figures from Fraunhofer ISE show that while solar expansion is bearing fruit in many countries, meteorological fluctuations such as wind lulls are having a greater impact.
Electricity trading adapts to
Germany imported 7.7 TWh of electricity in the first half of the year, primarily from Scandinavia, where wind and hydropower continue to offer favourable prices. These imports were more attractively priced than domestic electricity from fossil-fuelled power plants. Exports went to Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland, among others.
Electricity prices rise slightly – customer prices stable
After falling in recent years, the average exchange electricity price rose again to €86.64/MWh in the first half of 2025. The highest prices were recorded in January and February, when there was little wind. At an average of 27 cents per kilowatt hour in June, electricity prices for new customers were back at the 2021 level.
CO2 costs and gas prices on the rise again
In parallel with the electricity market, CO₂ certificate prices rose by 11 per cent compared to the previous year, and natural gas was also more expensive than in the first half of 2024. These developments illustrate how sensitively the energy market reacts to fluctuations in supply and political conditions and how important a sustainable, resilient energy infrastructure is.