Renewable energy sources (RES) made up 50.2 percent of Germany’s electricity consumption in the first half of 2020. For the first time, “green energy” provided more than half of the electricity used in the country, according to preliminary data from the Federal Confederation of Energy and Water Companies (BDEW). ), released on Thursday, July 30.
Earlier, similar information was published by the Federal Office for Environmental Protection, citing data of “about 50 percent”. The increase in the share of renewable energy may be partly due to the general decline in electricity consumption in Germany due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Germany’s renewable energy records in 2020
In the first six months, 272 billion kWh of electricity was used in the country, about 26 billion kWh (or 5.7 percent) less than in the same period last year. BDEW analysts believe that the reason for this is primarily the weakening of the economy against the background of the epidemic, which has led to a decrease in the need for electricity for industrial enterprises.
This is not the first record of green energy in 2020. In the first quarter of the year, for the first time, renewable energy in Germany produced more electricity than conventional energy – 51.2 percent.
See also:
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Shutting down coal-fired power stations
By 2038, the German government decided to stop the use of coal in the electric power industry – the most climate-damaging fossil energy carrier. Already in 2022, the total capacity of coal-fired power plants will decrease by a quarter. Those that run on imported coal will be shutting down at an accelerated pace. To curb brown coal mining, a number of German regions will receive billions of dollars in compensation.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
development of renewable energy
By 2030, 65% of the electricity consumed in Germany must be produced from renewable sources (RES), primarily aided by wind and solar energy. At the time of program adoption in September 2019, that number was around 43%. Among the measures to stimulate the development of renewable energy sources is to increase the material interest of local authorities in installing wind turbines on their territory.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Provide carbon dioxide emission certificates
Anyone releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere must pay for them. This is the meaning of the carbon dioxide certification system that was introduced in the European Union in 2005 for industrial enterprises. In Germany, from 2021, companies that sell different types of fuel to consumers will also be required to purchase these certificates. As a result, the price should go up.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Fuel price hike
The price of carbon dioxide certificates, according to the government program, will gradually increase in 2021-25. This should lead to a gradual increase in the prices of petrol and diesel fuel in particular at filling stations. The goal of the government program is to encourage motorists to use petroleum products more economically and, eventually, to switch to environmentally friendly means of transportation.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Enhanced electric mobility
The German government has expanded and extended a program until 2025 to incentivize the purchase of all-electric cars and plug-in hybrids that charge from a wall outlet. Thus, the discount for electric cars up to 40 thousand euros has been increased from 4 to 6 thousand euros, and for more expensive models it is 5 thousand euros. At the same time, it was decided to install 50,000 new public charging stations in 2020-2021.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Increase taxes on airline tickets
Emissions from operating aircraft engines lead to global warming, so the German government is striving to reduce the number of flights, especially within Germany and Europe. One of the points of the climate protection program is the increase in the tax on airline tickets from April 1, 2020. In particular, from 5.65 euros to 13.03 euros when departing from airports in Germany on routes within Europe.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Railway tax advantages
The more commuters prefer cars, intercity buses and electric trains for planes, the better for the climate, according to the German government. One of the points of his program is to reduce the value-added tax on railway tickets from 19% to a preferential 7% from January 1, 2020, and, as a result, reduce their price on long-distance trains by 10%. Taxes lost to the treasury are compensated by collection from air travelers.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Diesel home heating ban
Significant emissions of carbon dioxide occur when buildings are heated. In many German homes, especially single-family homes, heating systems still run on fuel oil or diesel fuel, and are often very old and inefficient. And the state is ready to bear 40% of the cost of replacing it with modern, environmentally friendly technologies. And from 2026, the installation of diesel boilers will be generally prohibited.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Low Energy Housing Support
The more energy-saving technologies are used in a building, the less energy is required to heat it. Therefore, from 2020, the German government, as part of the climate protection program, will provide tax incentives to all homeowners for installing energy-saving double-glazed windows in windows and for thermal insulation of walls and ceilings.
Author: Andrei Gorkov
.
