German demand for green electricity higher than at any time since Fukushima – Verivox

German households are choosing green energy sources at the highest rate in years, Focus Online reports, citing figures from the rate comparison site Verivox. So far this year, 65 percent of consumers have opted for green power sources when choosing a new electricity provider, a ten percent increase from last year, Focus Online reports. That’s the highest level since 2012, the immediate aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, when 76 percent of customers chose a green electricity tariff, the article says. Demand for sustainable electricity has fallen steadily since then, reaching its lowest point in 2018, when just 32 percent of customers opted for it.

The increased demand comes despite rising electricity prices, the article says. In March 2020, an average German household could expect to pay 30.14 cents per kilowatt hour according to Verivox, Focus Online reports. "The topic of green electricity has gained in relevance for both consumers and energy suppliers," Verivox energy expert Valerian Vogel told Focus Online. “Electricity providers are also aware of the social relevance of the topic and are increasingly using the ‘green electricity’ label to attract new customers," Vogel said.