Share of renewable energies in German electricity production sources made a record in 2014

For the first time, renewable energies including wind energy, solar power, biomass and water power generated more electricity than other individual conventional sources in Germany with a share of 25.8 percent in 2014, said the German Association of Energy and Water Industries in a statement.

 

Share of renewable energies in German electricity production sources made a record in 2014 and exceeded 25 percent for the first time in history, said German energy association BDEW on Monday, showing that Europe’s biggest economy was on track to its ambitious energy transition.

“Renewable energies have become the most important source of power and exceeded conventional energies with the largest share in electricity mix,” said BDEW, attributing the increase to new construction of renewable facilities and favorable climate conditions.

According to the Berlin-based lobby group, 610.4 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) electricity was generated in 2014. Output from the renewables increased to 157.4 billion kWh from the 152.4 billion kWh in the previous year.

Of the total electricity output, 25.6 percent was contributed by lignite, 18 percent by coal and 15.9 percent by nuclear power. Natural gas accounted for 9.6 percent of the electricity production sources, down from 10.7 percent in the previous year.

BDEW said wind turbines in Germany generated 52.4 billion kWh in 2014, increasing 1 percent from the level of 2013. Solar energy output grew year-on-year by 14 percent to 35.2 billion kWh, biomass output increased by 5 percent to 48.9 billion kWh, while power generation from hydro power reached 20.8 billion kWh.

In its ambitious energy transition program to phase out nuclear power, Germany sets targets to increase the share of its electricity generated by renewable energies to 40 to 45 percent by 2025, 55 to 60 percent by 2035 and 80 percent by 2050.

Earlier this month, the German federal government approved a climate action package to cut an extra 62 million to 78 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents in emissions by 2020 in a bid to meet its previously pledged climate target of reducing carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2020 from the 1990 levels.

According to the plan, German power plants would be allocated a reduction quota of 22 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents.

Experts said with Germany’s fire plants would be forced to shut down in front of the renewable challenges and targets of the energy transition were achievable.