The German states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein generated more renewable power in 2015 than households and businesses in each state consumed.

Germany has 16 federal states, three of which are city-states, leaving 13 area states known as Flächenländer.

Renewable energy production is easier in Germany’s rural areas than in cities, and low population density means that power consumption is also lower making it easier for rural states to reach 100 per cent renewable electricity.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, which borders the Baltic and Poland, reached 120 per cent renewable electricity in 2013.

The state increased its net share of renewables in power supply to 130 per cent last year.

Onshore wind power accounted for about 2.6 TWh of the total of 4.9 TWh, followed by power from biomass at 2.3 GWh, PV at 1.2 TWh, and 0.6 TWh of offshore wind.

The state of Schleswig-Holstein ocated, bordering Denmark near the North Sea, recorded 78 per cent renewable power in 2014 and reached 100 per cent net last year, according to analysts.

Biomass made up 46 per cent of this energy, followed by 44 per cent wind power and 10 per cent other.