Germany Now Imports Power at Night Due to Solar Capacity Shortfall
Germany, once a major electricity exporter, now finds itself importing power, including at night, due to insufficient solar capacity. The shutdown of the country's last nuclear reactors in April 2023 has exacerbated this situation.
Last year, Germany exported around 48,200 GWh of electricity but also delivered approximately 77,000 GWh, indicating a significant increase in imports. France has emerged as the key supplier, filling the gap left by the closure of Germany's nuclear power plants.
The shutdown of the Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2, and Emsland plants in April 2023 marked the end of nuclear energy use for electricity generation in Germany. This transition, while aligning with environmental goals, has led to a shift in Germany's electricity market dynamics. Germany now finds it more profitable to purchase electricity from abroad rather than producing it domestically at competitive prices.
Economist Manuel Frondel has suggested that the German government should reassess its plans to increase solar energy capacity by 2030. Despite having a photovoltaic system capacity of around 100 GW, these systems cannot contribute to the power supply at night, leaving Germany reliant on imports even during off-peak hours.
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