Renewables En Route to Cover Third of Germany’s Energy Needs

The share of renewable energy input into Germany’s gross national energy requirement is set to hit the 33% mark in 2015 if the unpredictable late autumn stats do not throw a spanner in the works, Germany Trade & Invest reports.

Some 193 billion kilowatt hours will come from offshore and onshore wind, solar, and other renewable sources for 2015, around a 20% increase on the previous year, according to the estimates from the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) and the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW).

The most significant increases have been in wind and photovoltaic energy, with offshore and onshore wind outlets producing 47% more power up to October 31 than in the same period last year.

“Even if we don’t hit 33%, the overall increase in Germany’s renewable energy share is terrific news,” said Thomas Grigoleit, Director of Energy, Environment and Resources at Germany Trade and Invest.

“Not only does it show how important this aspect is in terms of Germany’s Energiewende and climate change targets, it confirms Germany’s pioneering position in the industry. Germany is able not only to install this capacity but integrate it effectively into the grid.”