(Berlin/Stuttgart) – In 2022, renewable energies covered 47 percent of gross electricity consumption. The Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) and the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW) have come to this conclusion based on preliminary calculations. This means that the share has increased by five percentage points compared to the same period last year.
Investments in hydrogen-capable gas power plants are essential
The main reasons for the increase were the windy start of the year with record levels of electricity generation from onshore wind energy and the sunny summer months. There were also slight increases in offshore wind energy and biomass.
“For a secure, independent energy supply in the future, investments in renewables, but also in storage, networks and hydrogen-capable gas power plants are essential,” says Kerstin Andreae, Chairwoman of the BDEW Executive Board. Every additional kilowatt hour increases the amount of electricity available and can help secure supplies.” The official calls for, among other things, “more areas for wind energy and PV systems” as well as “faster planning and approval procedures.”
Electricity generation fell, renewables increased
Gross electricity consumption represents the country's entire electricity system and, according to the associations' calculations, will amount to almost 2022 billion kilowatt hours (billion kWh) in 547. In 2021 it was 564,2 billion kWh. In contrast, around 2022 billion kilowatt hours of electricity were generated in 574 - almost two percent less than in 2021 (585 billion kWh). Of this, 256 billion kWh came from renewable energies (2021: 237,1 billion kWh).
Onshore wind turbines accounted for the largest share of renewable electricity generation at 99 billion kWh (2021: 90,6 billion kWh). Photovoltaic systems delivered a good 62 billion kWh (2021: 51,4 billion kWh), closely followed by biomass with almost 47 billion kWh (2021: a good 45,4 billion kWh). Around 25 billion kWh of electricity came from offshore wind turbines (2021: 24,4 billion kWh). Hydropower plants delivered almost 18 billion kWh (2021: 19,4 billion kWh).
ZSW calls for the establishment of electrolyzer production
“It is now up to politicians to quickly design the market environment by defining the legal framework in such a way that a high level of expansion momentum is possible,” says Frithjof Staiß, managing board member of the ZSW. This applies to electricity generation from renewable energies, but also to the development of production capacities for electrolysis plants for green hydrogen as well as the infrastructure for electricity and hydrogen networks or refueling and fast-charging options for vehicles with alternative drives.
Photos
Onshore wind power and photovoltaics ensured increasing green electricity yields in 2022. © ZSW / Harald Dietz
