Germany Achieves 100% Renewable Energy for an Entire Week for the First Time
Grid operator data confirms Germany drew all of its electricity from solar, wind, and hydro for seven straight days, exporting surplus power to three neighboring nations.
Image: GlobalBeat / 2026
Germany ran entirely on renewable energy for seven consecutive days last week, the first time in the nation’s history that solar, wind, and hydroelectric sources covered 100 percent of national electricity demand for a full week without interruption.
The milestone, confirmed by grid operator Bundesnetzagentur, came during a period of sustained southerly winds and high solar irradiance across much of central Europe. Surplus electricity was exported to neighboring Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
“This is what the energy transition looks like in practice,” said Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs. “Seven years ago this would have been unthinkable. Today it is real.”
Germany has invested approximately 580 billion euros in its Energiewende — or energy transition — since 2000. Critics have long pointed to the program’s cost and intermittency challenges, but this week’s performance is expected to bolster political support for continued investment.
The country aims to reach 80 percent renewable electricity generation on an annual basis by 2030, up from 65 percent in 2024.