Germany continues to surge ahead in the use of renewable energy with the latest statistics showing the amount used in gross domestic consumption is heading towards 30 per cent.

The Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) said the share of renewable energy used in gross domestic energy consumption is expected to have risen to 28.5 percent in the first half of 2014.

During the first half of last year, renewable energy’s share was 24.6 per cent.

Renewable energy heads to 28.5% in Germany

The website Energy Matters reports wind power generation during the first half of the year rose to 31 billion kilowatt hours and solar panels produced 18.3 billion kWh.

On a percentage basis, wind energy grew by 21.4 per cent and solar by 27.3 per cent.

BDEW said generation from conventional power plants was continuing to decline, with gas accounted for 9.8 per cent, coal 18 per cent and nuclear 15.4 per cent..

By the end of May this year, Germany’s solar PV capacity had grown to 36,519MW, still more than China, Italy, Japan or the United States.

Energy Matters reports German policy recently turned its attention to also providing support for small-scale energy storage systems.

This is expected to result in massive growth for home energy storage over the next four years; from 6000 units last year to an estimated 100,000 units in 2018.

econews.com.au