Renewable energies in the German power supply a rapid recovery. The energy Association BDEW shortly before Christmas from a “head-to-had-to-head race” in the power generation of green electricity, and coal, with shares of 35 percent, reported, Wind – and solar power is suspended, according to researchers from ISE-Fraunhofer, the coal for a long time. The share of Renewable, “the electricity mix that actually comes out of the socket, was about 40 percent,” reported the Institute for Solar energy systems (ISE). The coal came, therefore, to 38 percent. The many media cited calculations, however, questions.

Andreas Mihm

economic correspondent in Berlin.

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For the assessment of the security of supply are all related to the year – to year-on-year increasing average pay, to use bad. In the electricity supply, it is important that the customer can not count in the average, but in every Minute of the year on an uninterrupted supply, and that is the weakness of the Renewables. So it is good for the climate, if on some days, the power consumption can be completely covered from renewable sources, so bad it would be for the consumer, if the Wind is not blowing, the sun is shining and there are no other sources of power.

Unexplained remains in the Fraunhofer calculation of the difference of 5 percentage points to the BDEW-calculation of before Christmas. Basic different a Comparison of gross, net, production and consumption are obvious. What sounds the same, is not the same. To do this, you need to read the “small print”. During the BDEW considers the entire electricity generation, observed in ISE, only the net-generation, so that what is fed, after deduction of own consumption of power plants into the grid. In addition, the bill considers only the electricity in the public network.

It is exported more electricity than imported

the entire on-site power generation industry from the calculation, such as the ISE confirmed on demand. At least 10 percent of the total electricity generated. The result of this “year of evaluation for the generation of electricity in Germany” is distorted as a result. The mains-powered green electricity is only in relation to a part of the German electricity consumption. The result will be overestimated, as the Institute confirmed, the share of Renewable in order.

As a benchmark for the objective of the government to screw the share of Renewables by 2030, 65 percent, is used, the Fraunhofer calculation method. Because the government as a basis for your goal, no net, but a gross calculation. You want that by 2030 two-thirds of Germany’s entire electricity consumption come from carbon-free Renewable. According to calculations by the BDEW and the centre for solar energy and hydrogen research Baden-Württemberg began in mid-December, the share of Renewable in the gross electricity consumption in the past year, 38 per cent. The number is also held in government circles is realistic. Measured in terms of the broader gross electricity generation, the renewable electricity share of 35 per cent smaller.