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Germany pledges to phase out fossil fuels by 2045

The roadmap also targets raising renewables to 80% of electricity by 2030, with solar capacity reaching 215GW that year.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Europe

Germany has set a new policy goal to transition away from fossil fuels by 2045, a first explicit commitment in a government roadmap published by the country’s coalition, according to The Guardian Business. The plan marks a shift from earlier pledges focused on achieving carbon neutrality.

The roadmap lays out renewable energy expansion goals, including increasing the share of renewables in electricity generation from 55% to 80% by 2030. It also calls for adding 12GW of onshore wind and targeting 215GW of solar power by 2030.

Germany said it is reaffirming a plan to wind down coal use in the next decade, with an exit from coal in 2038, and a potential earlier target of 2035, The Guardian Business reported. The government also aims to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030, aligning with a global methane pledge signed in 2021.

The Guardian Business cited criticism from campaigners and former officials, including claims that Germany’s economic affairs and energy ministry is pushing for greater gas use. The article also argued that the transition should be paired with faster electrification of transport and heating, including heat pumps to replace gas boilers.

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