Germany, Europe’s largest wind power producer, is experiencing its most prolonged period of below-average wind power generation since early 2021, as reported by Reuters.
The shortfall is attributed to a sustained period of low wind speeds since October 2024.
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Wind power is Germany’s main electricity source, with output typically peaking in the winter months when wind speeds at the turbine level are highest.
The shortfall has forced German power companies to rely more on fossil fuels and increase power imports.
According to the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), higher German power imports have driven up regional power prices across the European continent. Prices have begun 2025 at their highest levels in almost two years, around 70% above the 2020/2021 average.
In 2024, Germany’s wind electricity output saw a 3% decline from the previous year, totalling around 131 terawatt-hours (TWh), according to data from Ember.
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By GlobalDataThis reduction was primarily during the last quarter of the year, with a 22% drop in cumulative output due to significantly lower wind speeds.
Continuing into 2025, the first 28 days of January showed a 16% decrease in wind power generation compared to the same period in the previous year, based on LSEG data.
Production from lignite, hard coal, and natural gas plants increased by 4.5% to compensate.
Germany has also altered its power trade balance by increasing imports and decreasing exports since January 2024.
German spot wholesale base power prices have increased by 47% in January 2025 compared to the previous year, averaging €113 ($117) per megawatt-hour (MWh).
This increase has influenced regional power prices, with the average price across 21 countries tracked by LSEG also around €113/MWh.
Despite the potential for wind power generation to increase during the remaining winter months, forecasts through to mid-February 2025 predict continued below-normal output levels.
This indicates that Germany’s clean power output may remain limited, potentially increasing fossil fuel use, raising power emissions, and further imports, which could tighten regional power markets and sustain high prices.
