Renewable energy generation covered more than half of Germany’s electricity consumption in the first half of this year. This is according to preliminary data from the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) and the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW), according to DPA.
The share of renewables in electricity consumption was 52 percent in the first half of this year, according to the data. This was three percentage points higher than in the first half of last year.
About 42 per cent of renewable energy production was accounted for by onshore wind and more than a quarter by solar power plants. Biomass power plants, offshore wind and hydroelectric power plants also contributed to this energy production.
The development of wind and solar power generation plays a key role in the German government’s strategy to achieve its climate goals and increase independence from fossil fuels such as coal and gas. Government plans call for 80 percent of Germany’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030. Meanwhile, electricity demand could increase significantly due to the increased use of electric cars and heat pumps, DPA wrote.
The breakout year of 2035?
ZSW CEO Frithjof Staiss said that in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2045, electricity production would need to rely entirely on renewable sources as early as 2035. The construction of renewable electricity generation facilities must therefore be significantly faster than in the past, he said.
However, BDEW chief Kerstin Andreae points to labour shortages in this context. “Many companies are already struggling to find qualified staff. Moreover, this situation could worsen drastically in the coming years. We therefore need to enthuse more young people, especially women, about careers in the energy sector,” she said.
Source: ČTK
