BDEW has released preliminary figures for the German electricity generation mix for 2014. Renewables are likely to come out on top at 25.8% of gross electricity production, followed by lignite (25.6%), hard coal 18%, nuclear (15.9%) and gas (9.6%). Total gross electricity production was down to 610.4 TWh, from 633.2 TWh in 2013, with generation quantities from lignite and hard coal being lower in 2014 than in 2013.
After 24.1% (152.4 TWh) last year, a share of 25.8% (157.4 TWh) means that renewables are for the first time the biggest source of electricity generation in Germany. This record is due both to additional renewable generation capacity and favourable weather conditions, BDEW says.
Generation from wind only increased by 1%, having generated 52.4 TWh. PV contributed 35.2 TWh, an increase of almost 14%. Biomass produced 48.9 TWh, up 5% from 46.6 TWh in 2013. Hydro came out at 20.8 TWh.
On the conventional side, electricity generation from lignite was 25.6% (156 TWh), after 25.4% (160.9 TWh) in 2013. Hard coal was 18% (109.9 TWh), after 19.2% (121.7 TWh) last year. Gas was down again to 9.6% (58.5 TWh), after 10.7% (67.5 TWh) in 2013. Contrary to popular belief, these figures confirm that actual generation (in kWh) from lignite and hard coal in 2014 was lower than in 2013. Only due to lower overall generation the share of lignite was 0.2 percentage points higher, while generation from hard coal was 1.2 percentatge points lower.
Nuclear contributed a slightly higher share at 15.9%, after 15.4% in 2013, but with also lower generation quantity (96.9 TWh in 2014 after 97.3 TWh in 2013).
The share of renewables in gross domestic electricity consumption (Brutto-Inlandsstromverbrauchs) is even higher than the share in gross electricity production. It is likely to come out at 27.3%, out of a total of 576.3 TWh (599.4 TWh in 2013). For the German renewables targets in the EEG 2014 (40 to 45% by 2025, 55 to 60% by 2035, 80% by 2050), gross domestic consumption (Bruttostromverbrauch) is relevant (Section 1 para. 2 EEG 2014).
For renewables, the split between different sources was as follows:
- BDEW: Gas Consumption Down 14% and Electricity Consumption Almost 4% in 2014, Mainly Due to Mild Weather
- BDEW: Data on Length of German Electricity Grid and Share of Underground Cables
- Fraunhofer ISE: Renewables Reach 31% Share in First Half of 2014, More Than Lignite – Another Electricity Export Record Possible
- IEA: Integrating First 5-10% of Renewables Poses No Challenge – Higher Share Requires Transformation of the Energy System
- IRENA: Global Renewable Energy Share Can Reach and Exceed 30% by 2030 at No Extra Cost
- BDEW: Renewables Account for Record 28.5% of Gross German Electricity Consumption in First Half of 2014