Gross electricity production: wind energy in second place – ahead of nuclear power and hard coal
- Electricity generation with wind energy has overtaken nuclear energy, natural gas and hard coal.
- Wind energy is in second place with 16.1 percent, behind lignite with 22.6 percent.
- Gross electricity production from renewable energies amounted to 33.1 percent in 2017.
Wind figures from 2017
According to figures from AG Energiebilanzen, renewable energies achieved a 33.1 percent share of gross electricity production in 2017. In detail, wind-on and offshore achieved a total of 16.1 percent, lignite 22.6 percent, hard coal 14.4 percent and nuclear power 11.6 percent.
Wind energy thus directly leaves two competitors behind in 2017, namely nuclear power and hard coal. This continues an unstoppable trend towards clean energy sources. Joachim Falkenhagen from Windland Energieerzeugungs GmbH in Berlin says: “If there were no export balance and only lignite-based electricity generation had been reduced to the extent of the export balance, for example as a result of CO2-related fuel taxation, wind energy would already be in first place.”
Positive development of renewable energies since 1990
Since 1990, not only has German consumption increased significantly. Exports have also increased, while imports have declined. Falkenhagen sees great potential here: “If we switch off the dirtiest lignite-fired power plants instead of shifting their production abroad, wind power is number 1. Prerequisite: the wind must blow at least as well as it did in 2017.”
In fact, 2017 was particularly profitable for the industry because of the wind conditions. So much so that onshore wind alone already produced more energy than natural gas and nuclear energy. Offshore wind, on the other hand, is now at almost the same level as hydropower.
While the figures of AG Energiebilanzen show a clear increase in renewable energies, they also make it clear that Germany’s dirtiest energy source, lignite, is constantly maintaining its high level. Based on the development of the last few years, Falkenhagen nevertheless draws a positive balance. He estimates: “In 2018, the sum of electricity generation with renewable energies will probably exceed the sum of lignite and hard coal.”
The photovoltaic expansion of all federal states can now also come up with relevant expansion figures. Although the total newly installed capacity still falls short of the federal government’s targets, it is positive to note that photovoltaics has long since ceased to be an issue only for the southern federal states and has now become widespread throughout Germany. With the help of special tenders – for 4,000 MW of ground-mounted solar energy – the newly constructed plants in 2019 are to take over around 0.6 percent of electricity generation and thus contribute to achieving the 2020 climate targets. Deducting the electricity market value of around three cents/kWh, the subsidy for the open-space plants planned for next year is only around two cents/kWh. for comparison: in 2011 the price – also minus the three cents – was around 37 cents/kWh.
As a result, the photovoltaic and wind sectors are facing the same challenge. This is because the tenders and the high pressure to innovate have melted profit margins along the entire value chain. The task now is to grow with the positive market development and challenge lignite for first place – because one thing is clear: renewable energies are the trend!
To the article: https://www.erneuerbareenergien.de/wind-ist-die-nummer-2-nach-braunkohle/150/437/107105/