Share in electricity supply has gone up to 14 per cent
The share of renewable energies in Germany’s energy supply continued to grow considerably over the last year: it was possible to increase the renewable energy share in total electricity consumption from approximately 11.5 per cent in 2006 to approximately 14 per cent in 2007. With this Germany has already clearly surpassed its declared goal to step up the share of renewable energies in electricity consumption by 2010.
Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel commented the result at the New Years reception of the Bundesverbandes Erneuerbare Energien (BEE, German Renewable Energy Federation) as follows: "Once again it has become clear that the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) which is the foundation for this development is a unique success story. The amendment of the Renewable Energy Sources Act will raise additional financial support and thus preparethe ground for us to go ahead with an even more ambitious development of renewable energy sources. Even today the renewable energies sector plays an important role in the economy and is a driving force for innovation, growth and employment." In 2006 as many as 235,000 people were employed in this sector. 2007 saw a further increase in this number; reliable figures will be available in February. The energy and climate programme of the Federal Government aims at stepping up the number of jobs in this sector to 400,000 by 2020.
The energy and climate programme of the Federal government consolidates the decision to increase the share of renewable energies in electricity supply to 25 - 30 per cent by 2020. The original target was a share of at least 20 per cent by then. After 2020 the share is to be continuously raised.
In other sectors renewable energies have also been able to gain further ground. In 2007 they contributed for example with a share of 6.5 percent to the total heat supply (2006: 6.0 per cent). The largest contributor in this was biomass utilisation. Moreover, the present share of biogenic fuels in total road traffic fuel consumption already amounts to 7 per cent with bio-diesel, plant oil and bio-ethanol being used as resource (2006: 6.6 per cent).
The Federal Government aims at raising the share of renewable energies in heat supply to 14 per cent by 2020. By then the share of bio-fuels is targeted to be increased to 20 percent by volume (which corresponds to 17 percent as far as energy utilisation is concerned).
In total, renewable energies have a share of approximately 8.4 per cent in final energy consumption in Germany in 2007 (2006: 7.8 per cent).With this renewable energies helped to save more than 110 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) last year (2006: approximately 100 million tonnes). Minister Gabriel went on to say: "This means that renewable energies are a key pillar piece in climate protection in Germany."
Further information:
- EEG, Renewable Energy Sources Act
- Report on the Experience with the Renewable Energy Sources Act 2007
- Integrated Energy and Climate Programme of the Federal Government