More Solar Than Coal – and What This Means for Your CCF Revalidation in 2025

In 2025, photovoltaics in Germany generated more electricity than lignite-fired power plants for the first time, making solar energy the second most important source in public net electricity generation.

Solar power generation increased significantly by around 15 TWh compared to the previous year, reaching approximately 87 TWh in total, of which about 71 TWh were fed into the public grid.

For comparison:
Electricity generation from lignite continued to decline over the same period and fell well below the level of solar power. Hard coal still played a role in the electricity mix in 2025, but its generation also remained below that of photovoltaics and contributed less to public net electricity generation than in previous years.

This development is based on electricity generation data from the Energy-Charts platform of the
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE).

What does this mean for CO₂? A short calculation.

Assumption 1: Displaced electricity
Due to the strong expansion of photovoltaics and the simultaneous decline in coal-fired power generation, it can be assumed for 2025, in simplified terms, that:

➔ approx. 20–25 TWh of solar power replaced electricity from coal-fired power plants
(perspective: annual balance, not individual hours)

Assumption 2: Emission factor of coal-fired electricity
Solar power causes no direct CO₂ emissions during operation.
For Germany, the average emission factor for lignite and hard coal combined is approximately:

➔ 0.9 tonnes of CO₂ per megawatt hour (MWh)

Let’s do the math:

22 TWh of solar power (a cautious, mid-range assumption)

= 22,000,000 MWh
× 0.9 t CO₂ / MWh

≈ 19.8 million tonnes of CO₂

The result – rough, but robust

Based on these assumptions, the CO₂ savings for 2025 amount to approximately 18 to 23 million tonnes. This scale can be attributed solely to the fact that solar power has displaced coal-based electricity generation to a significant extent.

We have deliberately presented this figure as a range. It does not replace an official emissions inventory, but it clearly illustrates the climate impact of changes in the electricity mix.

Putting this into perspective:

A reduction of 18–23 million tonnes of CO₂ roughly corresponds to

➔ the annual emissions of about 10 to 12 million households, or
➔ a significant share of total passenger car traffic in Germany.

In short:
Even relatively small shifts in electricity generation can have measurable effects on CO₂ figures – provided you take a close look.

And this is exactly where your CCF comes into play

This change in the electricity mix is not a theoretical effect.

It directly impacts Corporate Carbon Footprints – especially Scope 2.

Yet in practice, we often see:

➔ outdated emission factors
➔ flat-rate electricity mix assumptions
➔ CO₂ inventories that appear formally correct but no longer reflect the reality of 2025

With a revalidation of your CCF for 2025, we work together to ensure that:

➔ assumptions are still valid
➔ calculation logic is transparent and traceable
➔ decisions are based on an up-to-date data foundation

In short:
When the electricity mix changes, the perspective on your CO₂ footprint should change as well.

Precise CO₂ accounting 2025/2026: Why up-to-date data determines your success

Dynamic carbon management: Aligning your Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF) with reality

Germany’s energy transition reached a historic milestone in 2025: photovoltaics overtook coal-fired power generation. For companies, this development is far more than a positive headline – it has direct implications for the data integrity of your climate inventory. At natureOffice, we support you in calculating your Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF) and Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) based on the latest emission factors. Since the electricity mix has a decisive influence on Scope 2 emissions, outdated flat-rate values inevitably lead to inaccuracies in reporting. We ensure that your accounting complies with the strict requirements of the GHG Protocol and accurately reflects your company’s actual decarbonisation progress.

In the current reporting period 2025/2026, revalidating your data is essential to ensure compliance with the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) and the ESRS standards. Especially for SMEs, the VSME standard provides a clear framework – but one that depends on a precise data foundation. We support you in identifying CO₂ drivers along your value chain and substantiating your reduction pathway with robust data. With our expertise in sustainability communication, we ensure that your progress – such as the reduction of your environmental footprint driven by Germany’s greener electricity mix – is communicated transparently and in a legally robust manner to stakeholders and auditors.

However, holistic climate action does not end with calculation alone. To effectively address remaining emissions, natureOffice provides access to high-integrity climate protection projects. Through PROJECT TOGO, you invest in a nature-based solution that goes far beyond pure CO₂ sequestration. We combine certified emission reductions with measurable contributions to the SDGs, such as the construction of schools and wells. In this way, we transform your climate strategy from a purely formal obligation into a genuine competitive advantage – uniting ecological responsibility and social impact in 2026.