Renewables meet record 52% of German power needs but 'expansion must take place faster'

Renewables during the first half of this year have met a record 52% of Germany’s gross electricity consumption, but more is needed to reach the country’s ambitious climate targets, the solar and hydrogen research centre Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) and the German federation of energy and water industries (BDEW) said.

Strong winds particularly in February and high solar irradiation in May have pushed the share up from about 49% in the same period last year and 43% in the first half of 2021, preliminary data showed. Germany’s six month green power share had already reached 50% once, in 2020, but that year was exceptional as Covid-19 related lockdowns depressed energy demand.

“That renewables already cover more than 50% of electricity requirements in Germany is a success,” ZSW executive director Frithjof Staiß said.

“However, if you take into account that in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2045, electricity generation must already be based entirely on renewable energies by 2035, it becomes clear that further expansion must take place much faster than in the past.”

Staiß added that Germany’s government has already set the course for speeding up the build-out by giving renewables a ‘priority’ status or by digitising procedures for grid expansion projects.

BDEW chair Kerstin Andreae said to reach net zero by 2045, the country also needs more specialised workers in renewables.

“Because regardless of whether it is for the construction of wind turbines, the development of storage systems or the digitisation of grids: ultimately it is people who implement the energy transition.

“Many companies are already having problems finding qualified staff. The situation could worsen drastically in the coming years.”

When looking only at gross electricity generation, renewables also reached almost 52% (51.7%) in Germany during the first half of this year.

Most power came from onshore wind (21.9% of generation), which generated 58 billion kWh, followed by PV with 33 billion kWh (12.4%), the data showed. Next in renewables came biomass with 22 billion kWh (8.3%), while offshore wind produced 11.5 billion kWh (4.3%), and hydroelectricity 9.8 billion kWh (3.7%).

Overall power generation went down by 11% compared to the year earlier figure.