Germany’s proud wind energy sector has hit serious turbulence. Despite being a cornerstone of the country’s green power push, the last few months have seen turbines practically idle, thanks to some of the weakest wind speeds in half a century — and the financial toll is stacking up fast.
From January through March 2025, average wind speeds dipped below 5.5 meters per second — a benchmark not seen since the early ’70s, and before that, 1963. That’s according to the German Weather Service (DWD), which confirmed what energy companies already knew from their plummeting revenues.
Take PNE, a major wind farm operator based in Cuxhaven. It watched its first-quarter earnings fall off a cliff — revenue sank from €31.4 million to €27.9 million compared to the same period last year. Worse yet, it swung from a modest operating profit of €1.1 million into a painful €7.1 million loss. And PNE’s not alone.
Nationwide, electricity output from wind plummeted by 31% year-on-year, based on figures from the German Energy and Water Industry Association (BDEW). Sure, last year had abnormally strong winds in April and in 2022, but even with that context, 2025’s calm has been jarring.
And no, say the experts — this isn’t necessarily climate change rearing its head. Historical data shows similar wind droughts have popped up now and then over the decades.
To make matters worse, Germany experienced a “dark lull” during winter — a period of low sunlight and wind. The result? Soaring electricity prices and a scramble to import power and fire up old-school energy plants to meet demand.
The government saw this coming. Former Economy Minister Robert Habeck of the Greens had already sketched out plans for 40 gas-fired plants to fill in the gaps when wind and solar falter. These would be future-proofed, supposedly able to run on hydrogen down the line.
Still, renewables are stretching the power grid in odd ways. On public holidays, for instance, when demand is down but solar panels are cranking out power, the grid risks overload. Operators can’t just dial down solar output on demand. That’s why Germany introduced the PV Peak Act — an effort to tame the solar surplus.
As of 2023, solar power contributed 31.5% of Germany’s energy mix, leading the pack. Coal sat behind at 22.5%. With renewables taking up more space on the energy pie chart, proponents say it’s a win — cutting dependency on fossil fuels and foreign suppliers like Russia. Detractors, though, warn of shaky energy security and potential fallout for ecosystems, including birds and forests.
Interestingly, Germany’s not alone in betting big on renewables. Even traditionally conservative nations like Hungary are diving headfirst into solar and wind. It’s clear: Europe, regardless of politics, is banking on a greener future — wind or no wind.
