Germany's total electricity generation from conventional and renewable energy sources in April and May amounted to 81.2 TWh, corresponding to a year-on-year decrease of 1.7%. The lowest output was 32.0 GWh and occurred on Sunday, 21 April (day-ahead forecast based on consumption forecasts: 32.8 GWh). This was 3.7% higher than the lowest output a year earlier. The highest hourly output of 79.6 GWh was produced just two days later on Tuesday, 23 April (day-ahead forecast based on consumption forecasts: 97.5 GWh).

Total renewable energy generation in the two months was up 1.4% compared with a year earlier, from 37.4 TWh to 36.9 TWh. Generation from renewable energy sources accounted for 46.1% of total electricity generation in April and May.

The graph illustrates electricity generation and consumption in April and May. It shows total electricity generation and consumption on each day in the period. The day with the highest amount of electricity generated was 23 April, which was also the day with the top hourly output (not illustrated).

Highest and lowest outputs of renewable electricity generation

Renewable energy sources produced their highest hourly output of 62 GWh between 12pm and 1pm on Tuesday, 23 April. This is 12% more than the highest hourly output in the same period the year before and more than twice the average hourly output in April and May (25.6 GWh). Renewables also produced their highest daily output on Tuesday, 23 April: a total of 1.1 TWh was fed into the network, including 753.3 GWh from wind turbines and 186.9 GWh from photovoltaic installations.

Renewable energy sources produced their lowest output of 8.8 GWh (including 1.4 GWh from wind turbines) between 8pm and 9pm on Tuesday, 7 May. The reason for this was a weak ridge of high pressure that produced calm weather and moderate winds across much of Germany. However, the low pressure system "Yukon" caused a change in the weather the next day, reflected in an output of 26.0 GWh (including 18.7 GWh from wind turbines) during the same hourly period.

The graph shows the day when renewables produced their highest output (Tuesday, 23 April). Conventional power plants adapted to the changes in demand and scaled back generation. The red line shows consumption.

Highest and lowest outputs of conventional electricity generation

Conventional power plants have, as far as technically feasible and economically reasonable, adapted flexibly to the generation from renewables. Conventional generation recorded its lowest hourly output of 11.5 GWh between 3pm and 4pm on Monday, 22 April. Conventional plants produced their highest hourly output of 51.6 GWh between 8am and 9am on Thursday, 4 April.