Coal unseats wind as Germany's primary energy source

Official statistics released earlier this week showed that coal replaced wind power as the primary source of energy in Germany for the first half of 2021, despite efforts to boost the contribution made by renewables.

The news comes as Berlin is looking to accelerate its transition away from coal power following years of mounting pressure from climate activists over the detrimental impact the country's reliance on the fossil fuel has on the environment.

Data released by the Federal Statistics Office (Destatis) found that the production of energy from "conventional" sources rose by 20.9% in the first half of this year, compared to the first half of 2020.

In total, conventional energy sources — which includes coal, natural gas and nuclear energy — made up 56% of the total electricity pumped into Germany's grid in the first six months of 2021.

Read more: Germany revises emissions targets after constitutional court ruling

With more than 27% of Germany's energy sources, coal was the clear frontrunner.

The contribution made by wind power to the grid dropped sharply when compared with last year from 29% to 22%. Wind was previously the largest source of energy but is now at its lowest level since 2018.

The total contribution made by renewable energy sources fell from 52% last year to 44% in 2021.

Statistics office officials put the change down to the weather. A lack of wind during the first three months of the year reduced the amount of energy produced by German wind turbines. By comparison, the storms during those months in 2019 and 2020 gave a sharp boost to wind energy production.

Germany is aiming to have wind, solar, biogas, and other renewable energy sources play a bigger role, as Berlin looks to phase out nuclear power completely by 2022 and coal-fired power plants by 2038.

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