Share in final energy consumption exceeds 10 percent for the first time
In 2009 renewable energies accounted for more than 10 percent of total heat, electricity and fuel consumption in Germany. This is the key finding of the report by the Working Group on Renewable Energies - Statistics (AGEE-Stat), which Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen presented today in Berlin. According to this report, not only was the renewables sector able to avoid the economic crisis to a large extent, it even increased its share in energy supply in Germany, and as a result of rising investments was able to record a further growth in employment figures. More than 300,000 people now work in this sector. "Renewable energies have proved that they can stand firm in the economic crisis", commented Minister Röttgen.
While electricity generation from conventional energy forms decreased in 2009, renewables remained stable - their share in electricity consumption rose further to 16.1 percent. In comparison with the previous year there was also a significant increase in biogas, photovoltaic and wind-power installations. Investments in the renewables sector reached a record total of 17.7 billion euros. The number of employees rose once again. Over 300,000 people, around 8 percent more than in the previous year, found a relatively secure job in the renewables sector.
"There is still a long way to go on the road to sustainable energy supply. This is why the German government's energy concept, which we will present in autumn, sets out a perspective up to the year 2050," explained Minister Röttgen. He considers German companies to be in an excellent position: "The International Energy Agency predicts that almost 5000 billion dollars will be invested worldwide in renewable energies over the next 20 years. The assessment for 2009 shows that German companies are very well placed, thanks to favourable national framework conditions, to be leaders on global markets."