Difference between revisions of "Germany Energy Situation"

From energypedia
***** (***** | *****)
***** (***** | *****)
m
 
(80 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
When looking at the energy/electricity situation of developing countries around the world it is always helpful to have in mind a reference point for a better understanding, analysis and judgement of the respective challenges in the case at hand. The country situation Germany should help to provide this critical positioning.  
+
{{CES Country|CES Country Name=Germany
 +
|CES Country Capital=Berlin
 +
|CES Country Region Europe and Central Asia = Europe & Central Asia
 +
|CES Country Coordinates=52.5167° N, 13.3833° E
 +
}}
 +
= Introduction =
  
This article first briefly discusses the present energy situation in Germany in general terms, before adressing in more detail the electricity sector and recent political endeavours that link climate protection and long-term sustainable energy supply.  
+
When looking at the energy/electricity situation of developing countries around the world it is always helpful to have in mind a reference point for a better understanding, analysis and judgement of the respective challenges in the case at hand. The country situation Germany should help to provide this critical positioning.<br/>This article first briefly discusses the present energy situation in Germany in general terms, before adressing in more detail the electricity sector and recent political endeavours that link climate protection and long-term sustainable energy supply.
  
<br>
+
[[Germany_Energy_Situation#toc|►Go to Top]]
  
== Energy situation  ==
+
= Energy Situation =
  
'''Primary energy consumption'''
+
== Primary Energy Consumption ==
  
Primary energy denotes the state of energy before any conversion or transformation process towards a more valuable energy form has taken place (e. g. solar energy, wind energy, fossil fuels, hydro power, nuclear fuels, biomass etc.). Primary energy consumption relates to the entire amount of primary energy used by an economy in a certain time period (usually a year).  
+
Primary energy denotes the state of energy before any conversion or transformation process towards a more valuable energy form has taken place (e. g. solar energy, wind energy, fossil fuels, hydro power, nuclear fuels, biomass etc.). Primary energy consumption relates to the entire amount of primary energy used by an economy in a certain time period (usually a year).
  
In Germany, primary energy consumption in 2009 amounted to 13398 PJ (= 3720 TWh). Although there has been a sharp decline in petroleum product consumption since 1995 (-14,4%), it still remains the most important primary energy carrier representing about a third of total primary energy consumption. Similarily, coal consumption has been decreasing during the last 10-15 years, but remains an important primary energy carrier. A substitution process in the direction of an increasing gas consumption has accompanied the decrease in consumption of the beforementioned energy sources.  
+
In Germany, primary energy consumption in 2009 amounted to 13398 PJ (= 3720 TWh). (As a yard stick: this is about 2-3 times the value of countries like Saudi-Arabia, Mexico, South Africa, Nigeria or Thailand; or about half the amount of primary energy consumption of the entire African continent.)<ref>cf. International Energy Agency (2010): Key World Energy Statistics, pp. 48-57.</ref> Although there has been a sharp decline in petroleum product consumption since 1995 (-14,4%), it still remains the most important primary energy carrier representing about a third of total primary energy consumption. Similarily, coal consumption has been decreasing during the last 10-15 years, but remains an important primary energy carrier. A substitution process in the direction of an increasing gas consumption has accompanied the decrease in consumption of the beforementioned energy sources.
  
Germany is a net importer of primary energy with an increase of imports from 57% in 1990 to 70% in 2008.<ref name="null">cf. ewi/gws/prognos (2010): Studie – Energiekonzept für ein Energiekonzept der Bundesregierung, p. 257.</ref> This situation underlines the high degree of energy dependence the German state faces. The rising import quotas can largely be attributed to a rising demand of gas and substitution processes of German coal through coal from international markets.  
+
Germany is a net importer of primary energy with an increase of imports from 57% in 1990 to 70% in 2008.<ref name="null">cf. ewi/gws/prognos (2010): Studie – Energieszenarien für ein Energiekonzept der Bundesregierung, p. 257.</ref> This situation underlines the high degree of energy dependence the German state faces. The rising import quotas can largely be attributed to a rising demand of gas and substitution processes of German coal through coal from international markets.
  
The following diagram offers an overview of the share of different energy carriers in primary energy consumption:  
+
The following diagram offers an overview of the share of different energy carriers in primary energy consumption:
  
<br>
+
<br/>
  
[[Image:Primary energy consumption.neu.JPG]]  
+
[[File:Primary energy consumption.neu.JPG|thumb|right|553px|Primary energy consumption.neu.JPG]]The following energy flow diagram offers insight into the shares of different sectors in total primary energy consumption in 2009. Very prominently, it visualizes the high degree of dependence on energy imports (~70%). Furthermore, it shows that approximately 25% of primary energy consumption are lost in conversion processes. Out of the 13398 PJ of primary energy consumption only 8714 PJ are available for final energy consumption. Final energy consumption is quite evenly distributed among the three sectors industry, transport and households. Only trade and services represent a minor share.
  
<br>The following energy flow diagram offers insight into the shares of different sectors in total primary energy consumption in 2009. Very prominently, it visualizes the high degree of dependence on energy imports (~70%). Furthermore, it shows that approximately 25% of primary energy consumption are lost in conversion processes. Out of the 13398 PJ of primary energy consumption only 8714 PJ are available for final energy consumption. Final energy consumption is quite evenly distributed among the three sectors industry, transport and households. Only trade and services represent a minor share.
+
<br/>
  
<br>
+
[[File:Energy Flow.JPG|thumb|center|618px]]
  
[[Image:Energy Flow.JPG|center|600x573px|Energy Flow.JPG]]  
+
[[Germany_Energy_Situation#toc|►Go To Top]]
  
== Electricity situation  ==
+
= Electricity Situation =
  
Needless to say, in comparison to developing and even emerging countries the German electricity sector is very proficient and works reliably. Power outage rates rank among the lowest in the world .  
+
Needless to say, in comparison to developing and even emerging countries the German electricity sector is very proficient and works reliably. Power outage rates rank among the lowest in the world. Power outages affecting German customers totaled only 23 minutes on average in 2004. Therefore, Germany has the most secure power supply system in Europe.
  
'''Supply:'''
+
[[Germany_Energy_Situation#toc|►Go To Top]]
  
Currently, the installed capacity of German power plants lies in the range of 143,3 GW electrical power. This means if capacity factors were assumed to be 100% (i. e. all power plants are in use throughout the whole year) the maximum amount of electricity generation would be 1255.3 TWh/year (143,3 GW x 8760h). Clearly, this is unrealistic due to high variable costs of power plants that are specifically designed to serve intermediate and peak loads only. Additionally, power plants depending on renewable energies like wind or solar radiation cannot decide when to generate.
+
== Electricity Supply ==
  
In reality, German electricity generation amounted to 597 billions kWh (= 597 TWh) in 2009 which lies in the range of emerging countries like Brazil or India.<ref>cf. International Energy Agency (2010): Key World Energy Statistics, pp. 48-57.</ref> This shows that the true value of the aggregated average capacity factor lies around 50%. Whereas nuclear, lignite and hydro power plants virtually run all the time to supply the base load, other electricity plants (such as coal and gas) only serve intermediate load. Peak load is mainly provided for by pumped-storage power plants and oil-fired power plants. To produce the abovementioned amount of electricity, fuels with an energy content of 5227 PJ were used in German power plants (~39% of primary energy consumption).  
+
Currently, the installed capacity of German power plants lies in the range of 143,3 GW electrical power. This means if capacity factors were assumed to be 100% (i. e. all power plants are in use throughout the whole year) the maximum amount of electricity generation would be 1255.3 TWh/year (143,3 GW x 8760h). Clearly, this is unrealistic due to high variable costs of power plants that are specifically designed to serve intermediate and peak loads only. Additionally, power plants depending on renewable energies like wind or solar radiation cannot decide when to generate.
  
Electricity generation in Germany is still based to a very large extent on coal. The generation mix in 2009 consisted of 28% from nuclear power plants, 26% from lignite, 18% from coal, 11% from gas and about 16% from renewable energies. The following diagram provides a brief overview of the situation. It should be noted that the share of renewable energies in electricity generation is considerably greater than in primary energy consumption. This can largely be attributed to the incentives created by the German Renewable Energy Law of 2000.  
+
In reality, German electricity generation amounted to 597 billions kWh (= 597 TWh) in 2009 which lies in the range of emerging countries like Brazil or India.<ref>cf. International Energy Agency (2010): Key World Energy Statistics, pp. 48-57.</ref> This shows that the true value of the aggregated average capacity factor lies around 50%. Whereas nuclear, lignite and hydro power plants virtually run all the time to supply the base load, other electricity plants (such as coal and gas) only serve intermediate load. Peak load is mainly provided for by pumped-storage power plants and oil-fired power plants. To produce the abovementioned amount of electricity, fuels with an energy content of 5227 PJ were used in German power plants (~39% of primary energy consumption).
  
<br>
+
Electricity generation in Germany is still based to a very large extent on coal. The generation mix in 2009 consisted of 28% from nuclear power plants, 26% from lignite, 18% from coal, 11% from gas and about 16% from renewable energies. The following diagram provides a brief overview of the situation. It should be noted that the share of renewable energies in electricity generation is considerably greater than in primary energy consumption. This can largely be attributed to the incentives created by the German Renewable Energy Law of 2000.
  
[[Image:Electricity generation.neu.JPG]]  
+
<br/>[[File:Electricity generation.neu.JPG|thumb|center|568px|Electricity generation.neu.JPG]]<br/><br/>The webpage of SMA publishes a [http://www.sma.de/en/news-infos/pv-leistung-in-deutschland.html life view on the projected, current power output in Germany only based on PV Systems] in Germany.
  
<br>'''Demand:'''
+
[[Germany_Energy_Situation#toc|►Go To Top]]
  
== Policy framework, laws, regulations  ==
+
= Policy Framework, Laws, Regulations =
  
'''General information concerning energy and environmental policy:'''
+
== Energy and Environmental Policy ==
  
In Germany, energy and environmental politics are strongly intertwined. For instance, there have been a number of regulations in the past to cut down the use of energy explicitly aimiong to reduce environmental pollution. Energy efficiency …
+
In Germany, energy and environmental politics are strongly intertwined. The combined energy and climate protection program is only one obvious example. Many other regulations in the past to cut down the use of energy explicitly aimed at reducing environmental pollution at the same time.
  
Most prominently, the German Renewable Energy Law of 2000 aims at considerably increasing the contribution of renewable energies in the electricity generation mix.  
+
In the political debate on costs and benefits of the promotion of renewable energy technologies the macro-economic and employment effects of the renewable energy industry became an important line of argumentation in favor of the legal framework set by the Renewable Energy Law. The Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU) regularly monitors these effects and reports that the employment contribution of renewable energies rose to 340.000 jobs in 2009 ([http://www.erneuerbare-energien.de/inhalt/47015/40289/ Report on Short and Long-term Employment Effects of Renewable Energy Promotion&nbsp;in Germany, 02/2011 - in German]).
  
'''Renewable Energy Law:'''
+
[[Germany_Energy_Situation#toc|►Go To Top]]
  
'''Energy concept 2050:'''
+
<br/>
  
The coalition treaty between CDU/CSU and FDP of 2009 lied the foundation for the recently adopted energy concept (end of September 2010) as it entailed the announcement a concept would be published in the course of 2010 formulating guidelines for a clean, reliable and affordable future energy supply based on different scenarios. Despite its high ambitions of transforming future energy supply in the direction of sustainability and efficiency largely due to enhanced employment of renewable energies there is a lot of criticism in the public debate. Nontheless, in terms of the time horizon of planning the concept can be regarded as a novelty in German energy politics because it adresses the next 40 years – roughly a power plant’s life span.
+
== <br/>Renewable Energy Law<br/> ==
  
The concept deals with renewable energies (A), energy efficiency (B), nuclear and fossil power plants (C), net infrastructure (D), energetic building remediation (E), mobility (F), energy research (G), energy supply in a wider context (H), acceptance and transparency (I).  
+
Most prominently, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Renewable_Energy_Act German Renewable Energy Act of 2000] aims at considerably increasing the contribution of renewable energies in the electricity generation mix.<br/>In 2014 the german Federal Ministry for Economics Affairs and Energy published the latest version and additional documents of the RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES ACT here: [http://www.bmwi.de/EN/Topics/Energy/Renewable-Energy/2014-renewable-energy-sources-act.html http://www.bmwi.de/EN/Topics/Energy/Renewable-Energy/2014-renewable-energy-sources-act.html]<br/>[[Germany_Energy_Situation#toc|►Go To Top]]
  
*<u>''Main issues:''</u>
+
<br/>
  
Renewable energies (A):
+
== Energy Concept 2050 ==
  
At the core of the concept lies the transformation of the German energy supply sector to a low carbon economy based on renewable energies. It is recognized that Germany already sets a good example in promoting renewable energies in the electricity generation mix. As backbone of this positive development serves the Renewable Energy Law. The biggest potential for future increase in renewable power plant capacities is seen in the wind energy sector (especially offshore) and in the further promotion of biomass energy. As an incentive to invest in offshore wind energy plants the concept proposes a subsidy program of 5 billion € that should help the first ten large scale wind parks from 2011 onwards. The construction of onshore wind energy parks shall be promoted by reviewing the existing spatial planning plans and providing sufficient construction sites.  
+
The [[Energy_Concept_2050|Energy Concept 2050]] is the latest political endeavour of the present German coalition government between CDU/CSU and FDP concerning a clean, reliable and affordable future energy supply.
  
To further promote renewable energies in Germany the energy concept 2050 envisages an unlimited preferential feed-in regulation for RE as in the past this served as a powerful incentive mechanism. At the same time high subsidies will be reduced in order to garuantee a market driven promotion of RE technologies that will help to keep the sector internationally competitive in the long run due to incentives for constant improvement and innovation. For this reason subsidies regarding PV have already been substantially reduced this year (2010).
+
= Further Information =
  
The potential of biogas and solid biomass to compensate for fluctuating electricity generation from PV and wind is explicitly mentioned. Therefore, the usage of biomas for heating, electricity generation and transprot should be considerably increased.&nbsp;
+
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Germany Wikipedia, Energy in Germany]<br/>
 +
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_Germany Wikipedia, Renewable Energy in Germany]
 +
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_sector_in_Germany Wikipedia, Electricity Sector in Germany]
 +
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Germany Wikipedia, Wind power in Germany]
 +
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_Germany Wikipedia, Solar power in Germany]
 +
*[[:File:Renewable_Energies_Act_(EEG).pdf|Renewable Energy Act]]<br/>
  
Nuclear and fossil power plants (C):
+
<br/>
  
While fully recognizing the need for a fundamental shift in the German electricity supply mix in the future, the concept states that in the medium term nuclear power plants are still needed to avoid sharp increases in electricity prices. Therefore, an extension of nuclear power plants‘ runtimes of an average 12 years is intended. This certainly represents the most critical point of the energy concept 2050.
+
[[Germany_Energy_Situation#toc|►Go To Top]]
  
*<u>''Criticism:''</u>
+
<br/>
  
Probably the most critical remarks in the current public debate about the energy concept 2050 concern the future use of nuclear power plants in Germany, i. e. the planned average runtime extension of 12 years. Independent research institutions, like the Wuppertal Institute for example, criticize the government’s plans of placing too much emphasis on the question of runtime extensions.<ref>cf. Wuppertal Institut (2010): Thesen des Wuppertal Institus zum geplanten Energiekonzept der Bundesregierung, pp. 5-8.</ref> This way, the institute argues, possible scenarios for a future sustainable energy supply are narrowed down to a single scenario that postulates CO2 emission reductions of up to 85% until 2050 (to the baseline of 1990) are not achievable without the extension of nuclear power plants‘ runtimes.
+
= References =
  
The Wuppertal Institute states that the ambitious climate protection goals are equally achievable without extending the use of nuclear power and without the application of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.<ref>cf. Wuppertal Institut (2010): Thesen des Wuppertal Institus zum geplanten Energiekonzept der Bundesregierung, pp. 5.</ref>  
+
'''<references />'''<br/>
  
== Institutional set up in the electricity sector  ==
+
[[Category:Europe_and_Central_Asia]]
 
+
[[Category:Germany]]
<br>'''<references />'''
 

Latest revision as of 21:22, 10 July 2018

Germany
Flag of Germany.png
Location _______.png

Capital:

Berlin

Region:

Coordinates:

52.5167° N, 13.3833° E

Total Area (km²): It includes a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways.

357,590

Population: It is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin.

84,482,267 (2023)

Rural Population (% of total population): It refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.

22 (2023)

GDP (current US$): It is the sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy plus any product taxes and minus any subsidies not included in the value of the products. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or for depletion and degradation of natural resources.

4,456,081,016,706 (2023)

GDP Per Capita (current US$): It is gross domestic product divided by midyear population

52,745.76 (2023)

Access to Electricity (% of population): It is the percentage of population with access to electricity.

100.00 (2022)

Energy Imports Net (% of energy use): It is estimated as energy use less production, both measured in oil equivalents. A negative value indicates that the country is a net exporter. Energy use refers to use of primary energy before transformation to other end-use fuels, which is equal to indigenous production plus imports and stock changes, minus exports and fuels supplied to ships and aircraft engaged in international transport.

61.40 (2015)

Fossil Fuel Energy Consumption (% of total): It comprises coal, oil, petroleum, and natural gas products.

78.86 (2015)

Source: World Bank



Introduction

When looking at the energy/electricity situation of developing countries around the world it is always helpful to have in mind a reference point for a better understanding, analysis and judgement of the respective challenges in the case at hand. The country situation Germany should help to provide this critical positioning.
This article first briefly discusses the present energy situation in Germany in general terms, before adressing in more detail the electricity sector and recent political endeavours that link climate protection and long-term sustainable energy supply.

►Go to Top

Energy Situation

Primary Energy Consumption

Primary energy denotes the state of energy before any conversion or transformation process towards a more valuable energy form has taken place (e. g. solar energy, wind energy, fossil fuels, hydro power, nuclear fuels, biomass etc.). Primary energy consumption relates to the entire amount of primary energy used by an economy in a certain time period (usually a year).

In Germany, primary energy consumption in 2009 amounted to 13398 PJ (= 3720 TWh). (As a yard stick: this is about 2-3 times the value of countries like Saudi-Arabia, Mexico, South Africa, Nigeria or Thailand; or about half the amount of primary energy consumption of the entire African continent.)[1] Although there has been a sharp decline in petroleum product consumption since 1995 (-14,4%), it still remains the most important primary energy carrier representing about a third of total primary energy consumption. Similarily, coal consumption has been decreasing during the last 10-15 years, but remains an important primary energy carrier. A substitution process in the direction of an increasing gas consumption has accompanied the decrease in consumption of the beforementioned energy sources.

Germany is a net importer of primary energy with an increase of imports from 57% in 1990 to 70% in 2008.[2] This situation underlines the high degree of energy dependence the German state faces. The rising import quotas can largely be attributed to a rising demand of gas and substitution processes of German coal through coal from international markets.

The following diagram offers an overview of the share of different energy carriers in primary energy consumption:


Primary energy consumption.neu.JPG

The following energy flow diagram offers insight into the shares of different sectors in total primary energy consumption in 2009. Very prominently, it visualizes the high degree of dependence on energy imports (~70%). Furthermore, it shows that approximately 25% of primary energy consumption are lost in conversion processes. Out of the 13398 PJ of primary energy consumption only 8714 PJ are available for final energy consumption. Final energy consumption is quite evenly distributed among the three sectors industry, transport and households. Only trade and services represent a minor share.


Energy Flow.JPG

►Go To Top

Electricity Situation

Needless to say, in comparison to developing and even emerging countries the German electricity sector is very proficient and works reliably. Power outage rates rank among the lowest in the world. Power outages affecting German customers totaled only 23 minutes on average in 2004. Therefore, Germany has the most secure power supply system in Europe.

►Go To Top

Electricity Supply

Currently, the installed capacity of German power plants lies in the range of 143,3 GW electrical power. This means if capacity factors were assumed to be 100% (i. e. all power plants are in use throughout the whole year) the maximum amount of electricity generation would be 1255.3 TWh/year (143,3 GW x 8760h). Clearly, this is unrealistic due to high variable costs of power plants that are specifically designed to serve intermediate and peak loads only. Additionally, power plants depending on renewable energies like wind or solar radiation cannot decide when to generate.

In reality, German electricity generation amounted to 597 billions kWh (= 597 TWh) in 2009 which lies in the range of emerging countries like Brazil or India.[3] This shows that the true value of the aggregated average capacity factor lies around 50%. Whereas nuclear, lignite and hydro power plants virtually run all the time to supply the base load, other electricity plants (such as coal and gas) only serve intermediate load. Peak load is mainly provided for by pumped-storage power plants and oil-fired power plants. To produce the abovementioned amount of electricity, fuels with an energy content of 5227 PJ were used in German power plants (~39% of primary energy consumption).

Electricity generation in Germany is still based to a very large extent on coal. The generation mix in 2009 consisted of 28% from nuclear power plants, 26% from lignite, 18% from coal, 11% from gas and about 16% from renewable energies. The following diagram provides a brief overview of the situation. It should be noted that the share of renewable energies in electricity generation is considerably greater than in primary energy consumption. This can largely be attributed to the incentives created by the German Renewable Energy Law of 2000.


Electricity generation.neu.JPG



The webpage of SMA publishes a life view on the projected, current power output in Germany only based on PV Systems in Germany.

►Go To Top

Policy Framework, Laws, Regulations

Energy and Environmental Policy

In Germany, energy and environmental politics are strongly intertwined. The combined energy and climate protection program is only one obvious example. Many other regulations in the past to cut down the use of energy explicitly aimed at reducing environmental pollution at the same time.

In the political debate on costs and benefits of the promotion of renewable energy technologies the macro-economic and employment effects of the renewable energy industry became an important line of argumentation in favor of the legal framework set by the Renewable Energy Law. The Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU) regularly monitors these effects and reports that the employment contribution of renewable energies rose to 340.000 jobs in 2009 (Report on Short and Long-term Employment Effects of Renewable Energy Promotion in Germany, 02/2011 - in German).

►Go To Top



Renewable Energy Law

Most prominently, the German Renewable Energy Act of 2000 aims at considerably increasing the contribution of renewable energies in the electricity generation mix.
In 2014 the german Federal Ministry for Economics Affairs and Energy published the latest version and additional documents of the RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES ACT here: http://www.bmwi.de/EN/Topics/Energy/Renewable-Energy/2014-renewable-energy-sources-act.html
►Go To Top


Energy Concept 2050

The Energy Concept 2050 is the latest political endeavour of the present German coalition government between CDU/CSU and FDP concerning a clean, reliable and affordable future energy supply.

Further Information


►Go To Top


References

  1. cf. International Energy Agency (2010): Key World Energy Statistics, pp. 48-57.
  2. cf. ewi/gws/prognos (2010): Studie – Energieszenarien für ein Energiekonzept der Bundesregierung, p. 257.
  3. cf. International Energy Agency (2010): Key World Energy Statistics, pp. 48-57.