In Germany, wind and solar overtake fossil fuels

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day, reviewed by our editorial team. Read the full piece on Yale Environment 360 or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Germany generated more electricity from wind and solar than from fossil fuels in 2025, a milestone for the country's "Energiewende" energy transition

🔭 The context: The shift comes as Germany works toward phasing out coal by 2038 and converting gas plants to run on green hydrogen by 2045, supported by simplified permitting for renewable projects

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Displacing fossil generation with wind and solar directly cuts power-sector carbon emissions, a critical lever for Europe's largest economy to meet its climate targets and reduce reliance on coal and gas

⏭️ What's next: Germany continues its scheduled coal phase-out through 2038 and plans to convert existing gas plants to green hydrogen by 2045

📈 One stat: Wind and solar generated 44% of Germany's electricity in 2025, versus about 43% from fossil fuels

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