Renewable energy

Energy from renewable non-fossil sources, namely wind, solar (solar thermal and solar photovoltaic) and geothermal energy, ambient energy, tide, wave and other ocean energy, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas, and biogas.

Renewable energies, also known as regenerative energies, represent a group of energy sources that regenerate naturally in a short period of time. They fundamentally differ from fossil fuels, which are based on finite resources. The most prominent forms of renewable energy include solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, bioenergy, and geothermal energy. These sources provide the opportunity to generate energy in an environmentally friendly manner and play a crucial role in reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

The development of renewable energies has gained momentum in recent decades. In Germany, for example, the share of gross electricity consumption fell from 3.4% in 1990 to an estimated 62–63% in 2024. Political measures such as the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) have significantly promoted the expansion of these technologies by guaranteeing priority feed-in of electricity from renewable sources into the power grid.The advantages of renewable energies are manifold. They contribute to the reduction of CO₂ emissions, provide a sustainable resource basis, and enhance supply security. At the same time, the expansion of these technologies creates new jobs. Despite the benefits, renewable energies face challenges such as weather dependency and high initial investments. However, ongoing technological development, particularly in the areas of energy storage and networking, is expected to help overcome these hurdles and further increase the share of renewable energies in global energy supply.