Renewables hit 57% of German electricity

Renewable energy sources, mainly wind and solar, accounted for nearly 57 per cent of Germany’s electricity consumption in the first three quarters of the year, the same level as a year earlier, according to industry data released on Tuesday.

Preliminary calculations by the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg and the German Association of Energy and Water Industries showed that solar power generation rose by almost a quarter, while output from onshore wind farms fell by 12 per cent due to weak wind conditions in the first quarter.

Gross electricity production rose by 0.9 per cent year-on-year. Lignite and hard coal made up just over 20 per cent of the power mix, while gas-fired plants contributed around 16 per cent.

Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche said she aims to adjust Germany’s energy transition strategy, projecting slower growth in electricity demand in the coming years. This could affect the expansion of renewables and the power grid. She noted that, to cut costs, the government is considering scrapping subsidies for small rooftop solar systems. Reiche reaffirmed the government’s target of raising the share of renewable power to 80 per cent by 2030.

Meanwhile in July the European Union’s expansion of solar energy is on track for its first annual downturn in more than a decade, industry data showed, as some governments reduce subsidies for rooftop solar panels, Reuters reported.

WAM