German decongestion plan alarms renewable energy operators

Germany has rapidly expanded renewable energy in recent years. By the end of 2025, it had around 210 GW of installed renewable capacity, mostly solar and wind, up by more than 60% since 2020. But power line networks are struggling to keep pace. Increasing volumes of clean energy are being wasted as operators are paid to switch off production to ease network congestion. Germany’s economy ministry wants to tackle this waste, but its plans are raising alarms among renewable energy investors.

Reporting by Nathan Witkop, Editor, Clean Energy Desk, Montel News. Contributors: Stefan-Joerg Goebel, Senior VP for Germany, Statfraft; Leonhard Birnbaum, CEO, EON; Thomas Schlaak, Partner, Deloitte; and Marco Wuensch, Principal, Prognos.