There are times when Germany’s electricity from its neighbors is cheaper than that produced here. Above all, electricity from renewable energies is becoming cheaper and cheaper compared to the conventional variant.
After the last three nuclear power plants were shut down, the German economy imported significantly more electricity. In the second quarter of this year, 7.1 billion kilowatt hours more were imported than exported, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office. This corresponded almost exactly to the amount of electricity from the three German nuclear power plants in the second quarter of 2022 (7.3 billion kWh). This is the highest quarterly import surplus since these statistics began in 1991.
Before the German nuclear power plants were shut down on April 15, 2023, there had been a significant export surplus. In the first half of 2023, German electricity exports (32.6 billion kWh) exceeded electricity imports (30.6 billion kWh). Most imports in the first half of 2023 came from the Netherlands and France, which have significantly ramped up their production of nuclear power again.
High energy prices and the sluggish economy have led to a decline in the amount of electricity available in the German grid. It was 6.9 percent below the value of the first half of 2022, as the statistical office further reported. Domestic electricity production even fell by 11.4 percent, which was partly offset by additional imports.
Slight overweight for renewable energy sources
With a share of 53.4 percent, most of the electricity in Germany was generated from renewable energy sources. Wind was by far the most important source and accounted for 28.6 percent of total production. A year ago, all renewables had reached a share of 48.4 percent.
The share of climate-damaging coal electricity fell by almost a quarter and reduced its share from 31.3 percent to 27.1 percent. In contrast, the importance of gas-fired power plants increased, their share growing from 11.9 to 13.9 percent.
The Federal Republic of Germany has been trading with other EU countries in matters of electricity within the framework of the European energy market for decades. The mutually desired cooperation between the countries should make it possible to save money and emissions. This means that electricity is both imported and exported – and thus passed on within the confederation of states to where it is needed.
Source: Stern
