Overall energy consumption in Germany has increased around 1.3% year on year (Y/Y), due to cooler weather, a positive economic trend and population growth of over one million. As a result, CO2 emissions are expected to "slightly increase" on last year, according to the Working Group on Energy Balances, AB Energiebilanzen, which did not provide actual figures.
A greater increase in emissions is said to have been avoided due to gains in energy efficiency and growth in renewables around 11% Y/Y which covered a "substantial" part of the increased consumption. Representing growth of 50%, on- and off-shore wind played a significant role, although solar thermal and PV also grew around 6% on 2014.
Overall, renewable energy is now said to account for over 30% of the countrys gross electricity production a tenfold increase from 1991 and 12.6% of primary energy consumption; and is thus, the most important energy source in Germany. In gross energy production, wind is the leading clean energy, at 12%, followed by biomass at 6.8%. Solar PV, meanwhile, accounts for 5.9%.
This year will see the export of surplus energy rise to a record high. According to figures, over 83 GWh of electricity will be exported abroad, while almost 33 GWh came from abroad into Germany. This resulted in net increases of more than 50 GWh, with most of the electricity exported to the Netherlands, Austria and Poland.
Read more in German on pv magazine Deustchland
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