Record: German power exports hit a new all-time high

Muenster - In 2013, Germany exported more electricity than ever before. The power suppliers achieved an export surplus of nearly 34 billion (bn.) kilowatt hours (kWh) that year, according to the Muenster-based IWR, a renewable energy institute, using data from European grid operators. In comparison to 2012 (23 bn. kWh), this is equivalent to a 47-percent increase. “Despite the high-consumption and high-load winter months, the power export surplus was even exceptionally high in this cold period”, explained IWR director Dr. Norbert Allnoch in Muenster.

Power export surplus ruins German climate balance
For the third consecutive year, German suppliers have increased the power export surplus. According to data provided by the AG Energiebilanzen, in particular, last year power production from lignite and hard coal was once again raised dramatically at the expense of natural gas. Thus the use of lignite for electricity generation in Germany (162 bn. kWh in 2013) rose to its highest level since 1990. In 2013, power generation from hard coal increased by 6.5 percent to 124 bn. kWh in comparison to the previous year. “The flooding of the German market with electricity generated from coal at the same time as an expansion of renewable forms of energy is leading to a high power export surplus, while also unnecessarily pushing up CO2 emissions by about 30 million tonnes”, enhanced Allnoch.


Muenster, 2 April 2014


Publication and Reprint free of charge; please send a voucher copy to
the International Economic Platform for Renewable Energies (IWR).

Attention editorial offices: For further questions please contact
Dr. Norbert Allnoch, International Economic Platform for Renewable
Energies (IWR).

Soester Str. 13
48155 Muenster
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)251 / 23 94 6-0
Fax: +49 (0)251 / 23 946-10
Email: mailto:info@iwr-institut.de
Internet: http://www.iwr-institute.com

---

Press release from the Renewable Energy Industry delivered by Renewable Press
Please note: The emittent / publisher »DE205640004« is responsible for all contents.