Europe: The fall of renewable energy
Electricity production from solar and wind drops dramatically during adverse weather conditions.
In fact, it happens every year. However, this type of weather condition now has far-reaching economic and environmental repercussions and reveals the shortcomings of energy policies based entirely on variable, renewable energy.
How is it that Germany, with one of the highest carbon footprints, now consumes the most expensive electricity in Europe?
Over the last 15 years, Germany invested massively in solar and wind power, while phasing out its own nuclear power plants. By 2023, renewables accounted for 55% of the country’s electricity production, up from 48% the year before.
The main contribution to renewable energy came from wind power. Wind was responsible for 31% of total production, followed by solar power with 12%, biomass with 8% and other renewable sources such as hydro-power for the remaining 3.4%. By 2024, renewables already accounted for 60% of Germany’s electricity production in the first half of the year. However, this level of production is spread out over a period of time and does not reflect critical moments such as the “Dunkelflaute.”
Dunkelflaute, the literal meaning is “flat, dark calm. Dunkelflaute is characterized by a simultaneous lack of wind and solar in winter, when electricity demand is at its highest. These episodes last from several days to several weeks, with solar and wind output occasionally decreasing to less than 20% of capacity. Sometimes even to 0%. On December 12, 2024, for example, German electricity production from wind and solar was 30 times lower than the demand for it.
Renewable policies would be bearable with a renewable energy source independent of the weather, such as nuclear.
However, in 2011, right after the Fukushima disaster, Germany decided to phase out nuclear power. Fully operational power plants were gradually shut down. This decision reduced the country’s capacity to produce stable, predictable electricity. Instead, firing, cooling, etc. became exteemly vulnerable to fluctuations in renewables. In short, if there is neither wind nor sun in Germany, the lights go out. The phasing out of nuclear electricity has made Germany incapable of being self-sufficient in energy, especially during Dunkelflaute. The country imports electricity widely from France, Denmark and Poland. The country uses coal and lignite for its own electricity production. Large-scale electricity imports also lead to higher prices for its neighbors.
The prices are staggering. In 2024, the electricity price for a German household was the highest in Europe at €400/MWh. With peaks of € 900/MWh during episodes of Dunkelflaute. By comparison, the average price in nuclear-powered France and Finland was €250 per MWh during the same periods in 2024. And in America, rates are 30% lower than in France. How can that be sustainable for Europe?
Despite its commitment to so-called green energy, Germany still has a high carbon footprint.
This is due to its increased reliance on coal and lignite (lignite) to supplement energy shortages. In 2024, the country remains the second largest CO2 emitter per unit of energy produced in Europe. A significant portion of electricity comes from fossil fuel sources. Gas and oil also fall under the definition of “fossil. Germany generates 10 times more CO2 per unit of energy produced than France.
Economic and geopolitical implications.
High electricity prices in Germany are leading to the relocation of its industry. Companies are looking for places where energy costs are more affordable. How can you stay viable when you have to pay 3x more for electricity than your competitors? Natural gas prices are even five times more expensive in Europe than in America.
Large parts of Germany’s proud industry are collapsing.
We remember only the big names: VW, BASF, Mercedes-Benz. With every big name that disappears or downsizes, small and medium-sized companies are also swept along. Energy-intensive sectors such as metallurgy and chemicals are hit especially hard.
Germany’s dependence on its neighbors for energy supply has created tensions in Europe.
High electricity prices in Germany are being passed on to neighboring countries, making electricity unaffordable there as well and causing increasing frustration. There are noises in Europe about withdrawing certain energy agreements, especially related to electricity imports.
In short, Dunkelflaute is the symptom of a deep energy crisis caused by an ideological, authoritarian and failed energy transition.
Dependence on unreliable energy sources (wind, solar), combined with a hasty phasing out of nuclear electricity, has made Germany’s electricity the most costly in Europe. It compromises the energy autonomy of this country, and ultimately of Europe.
The consequences are varied:
- Environment, with high CO2 emissions;
- Economy, with industry shrinking sharply;
- Geopolitically, with Germany’s neighbors fed up with its failing energy dictate.
Given Germany’s demographic and economic weight, this most recent German misstep is proving yet another European catastrophe.
Source: Drieu Godefridi is a lawyer (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain), philosopher (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain) and PhD in legal theory (Paris IV-Sorbonne). He is an entrepreneur, CEO of a European private education group, director of PAN Medias Group and author of The Green Reich (2020).
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