The transformation of Germany's energy system has yielded more results: During the first three months of this year, the production of solar and wind power was 40% greater than at the same time last year. This means that renewable energies made a crucial contribution to security of supply and price stability during a time of the year when demand is at its highest. The current increase in renewable electricity generation proves one thing: Germany's switch to a renewable energy supply keeps accelerating - Germany is well on the way to achieving its target of a 35% share of renewable energies by 2020. The figures also underline another trend: Germany is also making progress in combating climate change. We are succeeding in decoupling economic growth from emissions. This can be deduced from the figures presented by the Federal Environment Agency on the development of emissions in 2011.
According to calculations by the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), the production of electricity from wind power between January and March this year, at 15,682 GWh, surpassed the figure for 2011 (11,594 GWh) by 35%. The German Solar Industry Association recently announced that the production of solar electricity increased by as much as 40% during the same period to 3,900 GWh. The most important reason, apart from favourable weather conditions, is the rapid expansion of generation capacities. In 2011 new wind turbines with a capacity of more than 2,000 MW were installed onshore alone. This increase in capacity roughly equals the output of two large power plants. Furthermore, the first two offshore wind farms took up operation. It is also due to this increase in capacity that wind farms raised their output by 23% last year compared to 2010 – a continuing trend. The expansion of photovoltaics also reached a new record with 7,500 MW in 2011. And this growth has not stopped during the first months of this year. In addition to increased capacities, initial advances in grid expansion are another factor.
The dynamic expansion of renewable energies poses new challenges for electricity supply. We need a swift expansion of the electricity grid to balance production and demand over larger distances. The federal government has created favourable conditions by passing legislation to upgrade the grid, improve public participation and enhance economic incentives. In addition, the federal government gives highest priority to new storage technologies and the construction of new storage facilities in the medium term. A programme for storage research with a volume of 200 million euros has been established to help develop new storage technologies. Under the revised Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and the Energy Industry Act, storage facilities are now exempt from EEG surcharges and grid charges and thus more cost-effective. The overall aim is that Germany's wind farms will not have to be disconnected from the grid when there are strong winds in the North or East. The accelerated expansion of renewable energies in Germany is continuing this year, as can be seen in the figures of the Federal Environment Agency for 2011: Germany is successful in its efforts to combat climate change and introduce a more sustainable economic development. Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen explained: "The transformation of our energy system is picking up speed. The swift expansion of renewable energies is linked to further continuous reductions in CO2 emissions. Germany is well on the way to achieving its climate goals not despite but because of the transformation of the energy system."
The German Emissions Trading Authority at the Federal Environment Agency recently pointed out that in 2011 the approximately 1,640 energy and industrial installations subject to emissions trading in Germany emitted around 1 percent less climate-damaging CO2 than in 2010. Despite a strong economic development and the phase-out of nuclear power, the reduction in CO2 emissions has continued since 2008. According to initial calculations, CO2 emissions were reduced in the energy sector in particular compared to 2010. It is certainly true that a significant share of emission reductions in energy generation was due to the relatively mild winter of 2011.
Environment Minister Röttgen stated: "Against the background of our new direction in energy policy and the lower electricity output of nuclear power plants in 2011, the emissions figures for 2011 are a huge success. Especially in light of the significant economic growth in Germany last year. Projections for 2011 predicting a clear increase in greenhouse gas emissions as a consequence of taking several nuclear power plants off the grid have been proven wrong. One reason for this is the notable increase of electricity generation from renewable energies. The measures being pursued with our the new energy policy will keep Germany on course to reduce its emissions by at least 40% by 2020 compared to 1990. We will maintain this target and we will achieve it."
A study commissioned by the BMU on the occasion of the climate change conference in Durban has shown that the measures adopted up to July 2011 will help Germany to reduce emissions by around 35 percent as early as 2020, even if no further measures were taken. We will, however, take additional measures. The last 5 percent can easily be achieved over the course of 10 years.
Federal Environment Minister Röttgen went on to say: "The federal government knows that things will not happen on their own and that we need to make further efforts to move to a new energy era. But after all we have only just begun. We will systematically continue to expand the use of renewable energies and work on grid expansion, upgrading and connection. Most of all we need progress in energy efficiency, building modernisation, transport and efficient use of electricity. The measures necessary for this are enshrined in our Energy Concept. We will implement them step by step und in this way achieve the targets defined in this Concept."