The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) reports that Germany generated 72.2 TWh of solar in Germany in 2024, accounting for 14% of total electricity generation.
They’re not making enough energy for everybody. No company who wants to power their operations directly with power plants will do it with wind energy. It is unreliable energy. The price is volatile. They can go negative to expensive in an instant. Since Germany has no cheap gas, this makes gas backup even more expensive. To keep the large capacity operating, and to incentivize more power plants, they have to pay wind energy providers regardless if they make energy or not with a minimum payment.
If they’re making enough energy for everyone and energy prices aren’t rising dramatically, I don’t see the problem with this news.
They’re not making enough energy for everybody. No company who wants to power their operations directly with power plants will do it with wind energy. It is unreliable energy. The price is volatile. They can go negative to expensive in an instant. Since Germany has no cheap gas, this makes gas backup even more expensive. To keep the large capacity operating, and to incentivize more power plants, they have to pay wind energy providers regardless if they make energy or not with a minimum payment.
Big if true. Do you have a source?