Here to stay: Green electricity has consolidated its position as the main component of the electricity mix. In the first nine months, the share of renewables in electricity consumption was always over 50 percent.
Renewable energies continue to set the tone for electricity in Germany: in the first three quarters, electricity, primarily from wind power, sunlight, biomass and hydropower, covered a total of around 56 percent of electricity consumption. This emerges from projections by the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) and the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW), which were available to the German Press Agency on Tuesday. For comparison: In the same period last year, the nine-month value was a good 52 percent.
According to the calculations, renewable energies have covered more than half of electricity consumption every month so far this year – with shares between 53 and 59 percent. Solar energy in particular increased: at around 65 billion kilowatt hours, 15 percent more solar power was generated in the first three quarters than in the same period last year.
10.5 percent less electricity from coal and gas
According to projections, gross electricity generation from renewables increased by 8.3 percent to 217 billion kilowatt hours. In contrast, that of conventional energy sources coal and natural gas fell by 10.5 percent to 149 billion kilowatt hours.
“The fact that more than every second kilowatt hour of electricity consumed in Germany is now renewable shows that we are on the right track,” explained the chairwoman of the BDEW board, Kerstin Andreae. In order to be able to fully use green electricity, the development of storage systems and network expansion are crucial. Hydrogen-capable gas power plants are also needed. “Electricity generation from wind and sun is not constant. We need secure power for times when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing.”
Source: Stern
