Status: 12/26/2022 3:14 p.m
Climate Protection Minister Habeck sees clear progress in the expansion of renewable energies in Germany. He refers to laws that have been passed to speed up the expansion. The proportion of green electricity rose to 47 percent in 2022.
The increased energy costs as a result of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine have increased the pressure to press ahead with the energy transition in Germany. Some of the results are already visible. “This year has shown that we have really made progress,” said Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck, referring to the progress made in the expansion of green electricity. “We’re far from done. But we’ve made big laws, made a number of large and small adjustment screws to simplify procedures, gradually leave bureaucracy behind us and become faster,” said the Green politician to the dpa news agency.
“I’m not dissatisfied with the way things are going with the expansion of renewables.” he added. “Not satisfied yet, it’s all still a tender little plant, and we really come from the valley of tears here. But they have dried and you can already dare to smile again.”
Share of green electricity increased to 47 percent
The federal government wants to increase the share of electricity consumption from renewable energies to at least 80 percent by 2030. In the current year, according to calculations by the Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), the share was around 47 percent and thus five percentage points higher than in 2021.
The share of renewable energies in gross electricity generation in Germany increased by a similar amount. According to the BDEW, the proportion rose to almost 45 percent in 2022. The windy time at the beginning of the year and the sunny summer months were particularly responsible for this. However, according to the BDEW figures for 2022, the share of lignite and hard coal in gross electricity generation also increased, from a good 28 to almost 32 percent. The reason is the return of coal-fired power plants to save gas.
Legislative changes are intended to speed up expansion
The traffic light coalition has passed a series of legislative changes to further accelerate the expansion of renewable energies. Two percent of the entire federal area on land should be designated for wind turbines. The federal states should provide more space in the coming years. Different targets apply to the individual countries because there are different requirements for the expansion of wind energy.
The targets were met this year, said Habeck. “Next year it has to be more and then more again. But the development is pointing in the right direction.”
The wind energy industry expects an expansion of 2.3 to 2.4 gigawatts in 2022 as a whole. In order to achieve climate goals, Habeck believes that an increase of ten gigawatts per year is necessary. “Of course, ten gigawatts of new construction per year is a really high number,” said the minister. “We’ve never done that in Germany, we’ve never been there – and that’s permanent.” There are a number of specific regulations that make wind turbines more attractive for residents, citizens and districts, said Habeck.
A few days ago, BDEW boss Kerstin Andreae called for “more speed in the expansion of renewable energies, in the expansion and conversion of the networks, in the development of a hydrogen market”. The motto is: “Tempo, tempo, tempo”. There was still a lack of space for the expansion of green electricity. The planning and approval procedures are too long.