Germany hits renewables record

Power generated from renewables accounted for a record 35% of Germany’s electricity consumption in the first half of 2017, according to research by the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research in Baden-Württemberg and the German Association of Energy and Water Industries.

Accounting for 39 TWh, onshore wind power was the most consumed renewable energy source in Germany in H1 2017, with a 13% increase seen on the first half of 2016. Offshore wind power saw the steepest growth, from around 5 TWh in the first half of 2016 to 8 TWh in the first half of 2017. Photovoltaic systems generated 22 TWh of electricity, an increase of 13%, and biomass generated 23 TWh, an increase of 2%.

Looking to Europe as a whole, WindEurope says a total of 6 GW of wind capacity was installed in the first half of 2017, with a total of 4.8 GW of onshore wind capacity installed heavily around France and Germany.  

Offshore wind has also seen 18 projects installed in four EU countries, including Germany, the UK, Belgium and Finland – a total of 1.3 GW.

Despite the 6 GW figure putting Europe on course for a good year for wind installations, WindEurope’s Chief Policy Officer, Pierre Tardieu, says that growth in wind capacity is ‘being driven by only a handful of markets’. He urges member states to present their National Energy and Climate Plans to 2030 to get wind investment off the ground more widely in Europe.