Renewable energy accounted for 53% of Germany's electricity consumption in the first quarter, according to preliminary calculations released on Wednesday.

This represents an increase of nearly 6 percentage points compared to the same period last year, the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) and the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) said.

The increase was mainly driven by wind and solar. Onshore wind power generation rose by over 25% following comparatively little wind in the first quarter of 2025, the experts found.

Solar energy was down some 5% compared to the same quarter last year, due to unfavourable weather earlier this year compared to a sunny start to 2025.

German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche has said she wants to stick to previous targets to expand the share of renewables in Germany's electricity consumption to 80% by 2030, but critics have accused her of obstructing the transition to cleaner energy after she announced reforms to cut costs.

Under Reiche's plans, expansion of renewables is to be better synchronized with grid expansion, while the minister also aims to scrap subsidies for smaller solar power installations.

The BDEW underscored the importance of expanding renewables.

Renewable energy strengthen German supply security, resilience and strategic autonomy, said BDEW Chief Executive Kerstin Andreae, pointing to soaring oil and gas prices caused by the Iran war.

She said it was crucial to build on the current positive momentum through reforms to the grid and the Renewable Energy Sources Act.