Germany: Renewables reach record high percentage

The share of renewables in German electricity generation grew from 29 percent in 2016 to a record 33 percent this year, according to preliminary calculations by the Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW). “The gap between coal and renewables in Germany’s power production fell from 11 to under 4 percentage points in just one year”, BDEW head Stefan Kapferer said, stressing that the country’s power sector was “decarbonising itself with big steps”. As a share of gross electricity consumed, renewables rose to more than 36 percent, as Germany is a net power exporter.

[Read more here]

I've taken the image from BDEW's press release.  It's in German so I've provided a key below.

Source
Steinkohle=black coal; BraunKohle = Brown coal/lignite; Erdgas= natural gas
Sonstige=various/others; Kernenergie=nuclear; Erneuerbare=renewables
Wasser=water; photovoltaik=solar; Biomasse=biomass
Siedlungsabfaelle=sewage

Total wind went up 4 percentage points, solar up 0.2 percentage points.  Nuclear and coal declines.  Unfortunately most of the decline in coal was in black coal nor brown.  Brown coal is far more polluting than black.

At this rate, German electricity generation will be 100% green within 20 years.  That's electricity generation, not total energy use.  But the imminent electrification of transport will push it the percentage.