(Munster) – The International Economic Forum for Renewable Energies (IWR) expects an increase in photovoltaic and wind power plants with an output of 2022 megawatts (MW) in 10.000. Of this, 8.000 MW came from solar power systems and 2.000 MW from wind turbines. The electricity generation potential will therefore increase by twelve billion kilowatt hours per year.
After ten years of building on the record year of 2012
The forecast is based on an evaluation of data from the European network operators (ENTSO-E). According to IWR director Norbert Allnoch in Münster, there is high market dynamics for PV and a new start for wind power through the addition of offshore systems. “It took a little over ten years for photovoltaic expansion to return to the previous record year of 2012 after the political shutdown of the German solar industry.”
No lack of power noticeable
There are no signs of a power shortage in Germany in 2022. From January to August 2022, 158,8 billion kilowatt hours of green electricity, 12,6 billion kilowatt hours more, were fed into the German power grid than in the same period last year, an increase of 8,6 percent (2021: 146,2 billion kilowatt hours). “The skyrocketing electricity prices in 2022 are not due to a lack of electricity in Germany, but are the result of expensive gas power plants in combination with a price-driving electricity shortage in France, as 32 of the 56 nuclear power plants there are currently shut down, said Allnoch.
For the year 2022 alone, the failure of the French nuclear power plants could result in a shortage of around 80 billion kilowatt hours of nuclear power, which France's neighboring countries would have to cover.
Photos
Wind farm in the North Sea: The expansion of PV and offshore wind power is increasing again. © Shell
