Revival of natural gas in Germany / Siemens second in 'Clean 200' list
Bizz Energy
In the first half of the year gas power plants produced 18 percent more electricity than in the same period last year, according to an internal report by the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), Manuel Berkel writes in Bizz Energy. The share of gas in Germany’s electricity generating sources rose from 9.4 percent for all of 2015 to 11.5 percent in the first half of this year. The figures are surprising for the German energy market, which has seen the share of gas in the electricity mix continually decline since 2011, the article says. The electricity share from hard coal, meanwhile, fell 3 percent while that of brown coal, or lignite, dropped by 2 percent. The increase in gas usage is attributable to its declining market price: a year ago the price of gas was 25 euros per megawatt-hour compared to 22 euros in 2016. Gas is expected to reach 16 euros over the next three years. Experts say the downwards trend in gas prices will not continue.
Read the article in German here.
Bloomberg
German engineering giant Siemens is among the top companies listed on the global clean energy ranking “Clean 200,” reports Andrea Vittorio for Bloomberg. The “Clean 200” by California non-profit As You Sow and researchers Corporate Knights, ranks companies according to their total clean energy revenues. Siemens came in second behind Toyota and ahead of U.S. automotive parts and equipment manufacturer Johnson Controls. “Clean 200” is seen as a counterpart to the “Carbon Underground 200” list of coal, oil and gas companies, according to the report.
Read the article in English here.
Read the “Carbon Clean 200” report here.
E.ON
German energy group E.ON has launched a new large-scale solar power-plus-battery project in the United States. The company will install and operate a 10 megawatt (MW) battery for Tucson Electric Power in Arizona and also build, own and operate a 2 MW solar park that will charge the battery. The battery will equalise the feed-in of renewable energy to Tucson Electric Power’s transmission network.
Read the press release in English here.
CosmosDirekt
A survey by insurer CosmosDirekt and research group Forsa suggests many German car owners are open-minded when it comes to e-mobility. The report found that 57 percent of German car owners could imagine switching to a plug-in or pure electric car for the sake of the environment. At the same time, however, when it comes to actually buying a new vehicle, 41 percent said they would choose a petrol-powered car, while 21 percent would select a diesel, 16 percent a hybrid and 8 percent an electric car. Most German drivers appear to be emotionally attached to their cars: 88% said they would not get rid of their own auto.
Read the press release in German here.
For background, read CLEW's dossier The energy transition and Germany’s transport sector and the factsheet Energiewende in transportation: Vague goals, modest strides.
PV Europe
Deutsche Post DHL Group is aiming to have 2,000 new electric delivery vans on the streets in Germany by the end of the year, Hans-Christoph Neidlein writes in PV Europe. Deutsche Post DHL already has 1,000 electric vans, known as StreetScooters, in operation in the country — so far the biggest electric fleet in Germany. The vans are manufactured by a company subsidiary in Aachen.
Read the article in English here.
Clean Technica
Volkswagen AG has begun discussions with German solar energy group SMA Solar Technology AG about a possible collaboration on energy storage, James Ayre writes in Clean Technica. Talks so far appear to be in the early stages, however. SMA has said it is “way too soon” to comment. In addition, SMA is currently working with both Daimler and Tesla on energy storage. A VW spokesperson said the company was searching for the “right partners” to push the automaker’s “electric offensive” and added that SMA was “strong in stationary storage systems.” VW announced its goal of becoming a leading electric car producer and is looking at also becoming a leading battery producer as well.
Read the article in English here.
Energytransition.de
While more than 90 percent of Germans support the country’s energy transition, only 22 percent of households have switched to a provider of 100 percent green electricity despite having had the opportunity for the past 15 years, Craig Morris writes on energytransition.de. The conundrum has worsened with news that the number of households receiving 100 percent clean power declined by more than 10 percent from 2013 to 4.4 million in 2015, Morris adds. Households consume only a quarter of German electricity in total.
Read the article in English here.
Read a CLEW factsheet on opinion surveys on the energy transition.
