Survey results show that renewables can cover a quarter of German electricity demand by 2020

Power obtained from renewables can meet as much as a quarter of demand in Germany by 2020. That is one of the findings of a recent survey conducted jointly by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, and the Baden-Württemberg Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Centre (ZSW). That is equivalent to savings of some 110 million tonnes of climate gas carbon dioxide, about twice as much as today.

The German Environment Ministry sees wind energy as one of the most efficient renewables - it is clean, and next to hydro it is currently the most cost-effective of the alternative energy resources.

„Renewables are a strong growth element in German power supplies," said Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel at the presentation of the survey in Berlin in mid January, adding that „they will continue to improve their position - with positive impact for the independence of German energy supplies, for environment and climate protection, and not least as an innovation factor in the German economy". The Environment Minister is scheduled to conduct the official opening of the WindEnergy 2006 - International Trade Fair.

The study also shows that the monthly extra cost for an average household attributable to the Renewable Energies Act (EEG) will rise from today´s level of about 1.50 euros to not more than about 2.80 euros in 2015, and will go down from then on. "That is certainly an acceptable amount in view of the enormous challenge of fighting climate change and achieving energy security and better environmental conditions," said the Environment Minister. "There will definitely not be an unchecked rise in costs, as is often wrongly suggested."