11 May, 2016

Two German states reach 100% renewable electricity

Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency | GERMANY | 10 May, 2016
Published by : Eco Media Asia

Last year two German federal states generated more renewable electricity than they consumed, according to the German clean energy publication Renewables International. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, bordering Poland and the Baltic Sea, reached net 130 percent renewable electricity — 2.6 terawatt hours (TWh) from onshore wind, 2.3 gigawatt hours (GWh) from biomass and 0.6 TWh from offshore wind, for a total of 4.9 TWh. Schleswig-Holstein, bordering Denmark and the North and Baltic seas, reached net 100 percent renewable electricity, with biomass accounting for 46 percent of the energy generation, followed by 44 percent wind power and 10 percent other.

Rural states such as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein have an easier time at reaching 100 percent renewables compared to more urban parts of Germany because there is more land for clean energy projects and a smaller population means less power consumption. According to the report, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern exports electricity to neighboring regions but also imports electricity when wind and solar power production are low.

Schleswig-Holstein’s goal is to generate 300 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2020. In 2011, the German village of Wildpoldsried produced 321 percent more clean energy than it needs. The federal republic of Germany consists of 16 states, including three Stadtstaaten (city-states) — Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen. The other 13 states are called Flächenländer (area states).

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Article by Josh Marks at inhabitat.com
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