Energy turnaround: share of renewable energy increases in Germany

Today, 36 percent of electricity consumption is covered by climate-friendly alternatives. A report sees the climate protection targets still threatened by the transport industry.

Energy turnaround: share of renewable energy increases in Germany

In electricity production in Germany, share of renewable energies has risen sharply this year. According to provisional figures, it is 33.1 percent. 2016, share was still 29 percent, and Federal Association of Energy and Water Management (BDEW) was part of it. Thus, 27 percent of electricity came from stone and lignite power plants, a decline of 3.3 percentage points.

The energy turnaround in Germany, at least in power plants, has made a significant progress. Renewable energies would have produced 2017 good 15 percent more electricity and thus increased ir share of total production to over one third.

According to BDEW, gas power plants had a share of 13.1 percent in electricity generation last year, i.e. 0.6 per cent more than in prior year. Nuclear power dropped 2017 from 13 to 11.6 percent.

The figures showed that renewable energies are "on leap to become number one in gross electricity generation", said BDEW managing director Stefan Kapferer. The phasing out of coal-fired electricity has already begun, and energy industry is thus contributing to climate goals of federal government. This year, six coal-fired piles were taken off grid. The first lignite power plants had been shifted from normal to standby.

In terms of domestic consumption, renewable energies would even have a share of 36.1 percent. The target of 35 percent of federal government for year 2020 was thus already surpassed by 2017, said Kapferer.

Transport sector threatens climate targets

The main culprit in impending failure of climate target for 2020 is transport sector, Kapferer said. The consumption of diesel and petrol had risen 2017 again. Compared to 1990, traffic did not save any greenhouse gases at all.

Kapferer encouraged sale of CO2 pollution rights in traffic, similar to power plants. As electricity is set to become cleaner and play an ever greater role, it must be relieved of costs on or side. The electricity tax should be reduced to minimum possible.

Date Of Update: 21 December 2017, 12:02
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