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Renewable Energy Generation in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Melanie Katz Melanie Katz Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: September 2024 WZ D35.40DE

Revenue

€84.3bn

2024

€84.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€X.Xbn

Employees

45,846

Businesses

178

Wages

€X.Xbn

Renewable Energy Generation in Germany industry analysis

The sector for generating electricity, heating and cooling from renewable energy sources has grown significantly over the past ten years in terms of turnover, the number of industry players and the amount of energy generated. This growth has been driven by the energy transition and the goal of climate neutrality by 2035. In order to achieve this goal, the industry receives extensive subsidies, the distribution of which is regulated by the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). In the period from 2019 to 2024, industry turnover increased by an average of 3.8% per year. In the current year, industry turnover is expected to increase by 4.8% to 84.2 billion euros.In addition to the amount of energy generated from wind, water, solar radiation, biomass and geothermal energy and the level of general electricity consumption, environmental awareness in politics and society as well as competition from fossil fuels and nuclear power are important factors influencing the development of industry sales. Since 2019, public awareness of the importance of environmental and climate protection has grown continuously, which has had a positive impact on the demand for green electricity and on companies' investments in the use of renewable energies. Emissions trading and CO2 pricing have made energy generation from fossil fuels more expensive in recent years, while the cost of generating electricity from renewable energies has fallen. The nuclear phase-out in April 2023 and the coal phase-out by 2038 will further weaken the competition facing the industry. At the same time, there is increasing pressure to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy plants so that Germany's entire energy requirements can be covered by renewables in just a few years' time.As technological progress will lead to further cost reductions and efficiency increases in the industry's systems in the coming years and the expansion target for renewable energies has been significantly increased by the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) 2023, IBISWorld is forecasting average annual sales growth of 7.2% for the period from 2024 to 2029. Accordingly, industry turnover is expected to amount to 119.1 billion euros in 2029. The number of industry players and employees in this sector is also expected to increase further.

Trends and Insights

  • The amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act is intended to accelerate the expansion of renewable energies. Among other things, the amendment provides for an increase in the expansion paths, i.e. the interim targets for the installed capacity of renewable energy systems, and the tendering volumes for wind power and solar systems.
  • Heat generation from biomass accounts for the largest share of sales. This segment's share of sales is expected to increase slightly in the coming years, as fewer fossil fuels are to be used.
  • In an interregional comparison, southern Germany is home to the most companies in the renewable energy sector. More than half of all German hydropower plants are located there due to the conditions of the Alpine foothills, which are suitable for the utilisation of hydropower.
  • The market concentration is expected to increase in the coming years. With the construction of more offshore wind farms and photovoltaic parks, the ownership structure is likely to shift towards energy suppliers and larger investors in the future.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €84.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The amendment to the EEG is intended to accelerate the expansion of renewable energies

  • The Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) forms the basis for the expansion of renewable energies in the field of electricity generation. Due to the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, the German government wants to reduce Germany's dependence on fossil fuels as quickly as possible.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Renewable Energy Generation in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Biggest companies in the Renewable Energy Generation in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
RWE AG
6,136.9
Vattenfall GmbH
2,559.7
EnBW AG
1,338.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Renewable Energy Generation in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Heat generation from biomass, Onshore wind energy and Photovoltaics. Heat generation from biomass is the largest segment of the Renewable Energy Generation in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Heat generation from biomass is becoming increasingly important with the coal phase-out

  • For heat generation from biomass, solid fuels such as wood, wood pellets or wood chips are primarily used in private households or in combined heat and power plants. Gaseous fuels such as biogas from slurry or sewage gas and liquid fuels such as vegetable oil are also used in power plants.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This sector comprises the generation of electricity, heat and cold from renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources include photovoltaics, hydropower, wind power, biomass, geothermal energy and solar thermal energy. However, it does not include energy generation from nuclear power and fossil fuels or the transmission and distribution of electricity, heat and cold.

What's included in this industry?

Heat generation from biomassOnshore wind energyPhotovoltaicsPower generation from biomassWind energy at sea

Companies

RWE AGVattenfall GmbHEnBW AG

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

REPOWERINGELECTRICITY PRODUCTION COSTSELECTROLYSEURINSTALLED POWERECOELECTRICITY

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 35.11 - Renewable Energy Generation in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act is intended to accelerate the expansion of renewable energies. Among other things, the amendment provides for an increase in...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Heat generation from biomass accounts for the largest share of sales. This segment's share of sales is expected to increase slightly in the coming years, as fewer fossil fuel...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

In an interregional comparison, southern Germany is home to the most companies in the renewable energy sector. More than half of all German hydropower plants are located ther...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The market concentration is expected to increase in the coming years. With the construction of more offshore wind farms and photovoltaic parks, the ownership structure is lik...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

There are no major players in the industry. One reason for the low market concentration in the industry is that only a relatively small proportion of renewable energy plants ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of RWE AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Vattenfall GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of EnBW AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for RWE AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Vattenfall GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for EnBW AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Renewable Energy Sources Act is the central instrument for the expansion of renewable energies. In order to achieve the expansion targets of the EEG 2023, the so-called s...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Although the construction costs for renewable energy plants have fallen over the last five years, the industry's profits have remained relatively stable. This is due to fluct...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Renewable Energy Generation industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Renewable Energy Generation industry in Germany is €84.3bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Renewable Energy Generation in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 178 businesses in the Renewable Energy Generation industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 8.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Renewable Energy Generation industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Renewable Energy Generation industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 3.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Renewable Energy Generation industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Renewable Energy Generation industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Renewable Energy Generation market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Renewable Energy Generation market in Germany are RWE AG, Vattenfall GmbH and EnBW AG

What does the Renewable Energy Generation in Germany include?

Heat generation from biomass and Onshore wind energy are part of the Renewable Energy Generation industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Renewable Energy Generation in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is RWE AG.

How competitive is the Renewable Energy Generation industry in Germany?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Renewable Energy Generation industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Steam and Air Conditioning Supply
  • Gas Manufacturing & Distribution in Germany
  • Steam & Air Conditioning Supply in Germany

Complementors

  • There are no industries to display.

International industries

  • Wind Power in the US
  • Solar Power in the US
  • Thermal Power in Canada
  • Renewable Power in Canada
  • Hydro-Electricity Generation in Australia

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.