Germany's Renewable Energy Surge: 2017 Exceeds 2020 Targets
Germany's renewable energy sector has achieved remarkable milestones in 2017. The country surpassed its 2020 target for renewable energy usage three years early, reaching 36.5% of domestic demand. This success was accompanied by record power exports and a significant growth in renewable electricity.
The year 2017 marked the fifth consecutive year of record power exports, reaching an impressive 53 TWh. This growth was driven by a surge in renewable electricity, which now enjoys priority dispatch on the German grid. The increase in renewable energy was so significant that it almost doubled the reduction in nuclear power since 2003.
Despite this progress, coal power production fell noticeably in 2017, even with record exports. Both lignite and hard coal power have dropped, with hard coal power decreasing by over a quarter since 2013. Gas power, however, saw a slight increase in 2017 but has grown by more than a quarter since 2013.
In line with this shift, enercity in Hannover is moving away from lignite coal. They plan to build 14 renewable heat generation plants by 2028, focusing on biomass, biogas, and geothermal heat instead of switching mainly to gas. Another municipal utility, ENERVIE, is open to investing in gas power depending on incentives and synergy potentials.
Germany's commitment to renewable energy has paid off, with the country surpassing its 2020 target three years early. As coal power production falls and gas power remains stagnant, utilities like enercity are investing in renewable energy sources. The future of Germany's energy sector appears to be increasingly green.
Read also:
- Galvanize Unveils $1.3 Billion Plan to Fund the Energy Sector's Evolution Pathway
- Excess Solar Energy in the Grid: Challenges for Photovoltaic System Owners
- EV Charging Network Broadens Reach in Phoenix, Arizona (Greenlane Extends Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in Phoenix)
- Relying on on-site power generation for data centers faces opposition
