In the media: E-mobility becomes commercially viable
Study: Up to 700,000 e-cars could be run profitably in commercial car fleets by 2020
Large numbers of e-cars could already be profitably operated in commercial car fleets, according to a study by the Institute for Applied Ecology and electronic industry association VDE, supported by the energy ministry. An average-sized e-car is currently cheaper than a conventional vehicle only if it is driven more than 35,000 kilometres per year. But changes in the costs of energy and batteries could reduce that threshold to 10,000 to 30,000 kilometres per year, the scientists found. This would translate into an economic potential for up to 700,000 e-cars in commercial car fleets by 2020.
See the study in German here.
Die Welt
"Hope for the climate"
At first glance, the BP Energy Outlook contains devastating news for climate protection efforts, Daniel Wetzel writes in an opinion piece for Die Welt. Greenhouse gas emissions are set to increase 25 percent by 2035, and no climate change conference, wind turbine development, or German investment in the energy transition seems able to reverse this trend. But there is hope, Wetzel says. BP's projections also show that growth in consumption of the dirtiest energy commodity - coal - has slowed, while cleaner energy from natural gas is expanding faster than coal and oil consumption combined. Renewables are growing faster than any other energy source, and OECD countries have now proved that economic growth and energy consumption can be de-coupled.
See the op-ed in German here.
dpa
"14 regional states reject Seehofer’s energy policy"
Bavarian state premier Horst Seehofer’s reluctance to build new electricity superhighways from northern wind turbines to the power-hungry south of Germany is meeting resistance from almost all other regional states, according to a survey by press agency dpa. Of Germany’s 16 regional states, 14 said they would refuse Seehofer’s demand to subsidise new gas-fired power plants to remove the need for at least one of power lines. The states said Seehofer’s demands contradict existing laws, are too expensive and would damage the renewable power sector in the north.
See the article in German here.
See CLEW's Dossier on the German grid here.
Renewable Energies Agency
“Solar energy becomes cornerstone of power supply in southern Germany”
On a sunny day, Germany's 38 gigawatts of installed solar capacity is enough to cover more than half of midday peak power demand, the Renewable Energies Agency (AEE) announced in a press release. In the southern states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, this rises to two-thirds. Due to recent modernisations, photovoltaic installations now also provide system stability services which help to maintain the correct grid frequency, said Philipp Vohrer, head of the AEE. The AEE has updated its website on renewable development in the German regional states with the latest numbers on solar capacity.
See the AEE press release in German here.
Access the data on the Föderal-Erneuerbar website here.
Wind turbines hit new record of 10 billion KWh in January
Electricity generation from wind in Germany reached a new record high in January, when it topped 10 billion kWh for the first time, according to figures from utility association BDEW. Total electricity generation increased around six percent year-on-year. The downward trend of prices at the electricity exchange continued, with the average price on the spot market at 29 euros per MWh, says BDEW.
