New study on renewable energy

According to a study, electricity consumption in Germany is expected to rise sharply by the year 2050. In the future, up to 60 percent of this will come from renewable energies. This would require a switch from oil and gas to electrical energy, for example, to ensure that demand is covered. At least this is predicted by the Agora think tank Energiewende und Verkehrswende and the Climate Neutrality Foundation. Electricity consumption is expected to be much higher as early as 2030. In 2018, gross electricity consumption will average 595 TWh, and if climate protection continues at the necessary pace, it would already be 643 TWh in 2030.

This could be mainly due to the fact that more cars are produced and heaters are electrically powered. By 2050, oil, coal and natural gas should therefore no longer play a role. Currently, the Bundestag is discussing a reform of the Renewable Energy Sources Act, which is intended to accelerate the expansion of green electricity – the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and the SPD states that the target is 65 percent green electricity by 2030. For 2030, the draft by Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) assumes 580 TWh electricity consumption. Energy associations also consider this to be too little. However, the draft also refers to uncertainties – the forecast is regularly evaluated and adjusted if necessary.