Almost a third less electricity from wind power in the first quarter of 2021

Published on: June 25, 2021 / update from: June 25, 2021 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Electricity generation in the 1st quarter of 2021: More electricity from conventional energy sources again. A low-wind spring results in almost a third less electricity from wind power.

Conventional and renewable energy sources – Image: Xpert.Digital & Imichman|Shutterstock.com

In the first quarter of 2021, 138.2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity were generated in Germany and fed into the power grid. According to preliminary results from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), this was 2.6% less than in the 1st quarter of 2020. While the majority of electricity in the 1st quarter of 2020 came from renewable energy sources (51.4%), the electricity in the 1st quarter In 2021, 59.3% will be generated from conventional energy sources. Compared to the same quarter last year, electricity feed-in from conventional energy sources increased by 18.9%. In contrast, the feed-in of electricity from renewable energies fell by 23.0%.

At 3.2%, photovoltaics also delivered less electricity compared to the previous year, which in turn shows that photovoltaics are less sensitive to fluctuations compared to wind power. With the solar carport strategy and solar obligation , the expansion should also be accelerated photovoltaic open-space system

In particular, electricity feed-in from wind power fell sharply compared to the same quarter last year, falling by 32.4%. The feed-in of 33.5 billion kilowatt hours was the lowest value for a first quarter since 2018. In 2019 and 2020, electricity feed-in from wind power reached significantly higher values ​​in the first quarter due to strong and long-lasting spring storms. The first quarter of 2021, on the other hand, was comparatively low in wind.

Coal is the most important energy source for electricity generation in the first quarter of 2021

In the first quarter of 2019 and 2020, conventional power plants were scaled back due to the large amount of wind power and the priority feed-in of electricity from renewable energy sources. In the first quarter of 2021, however, the lower amount of wind power was compensated primarily by higher electricity generation from coal and natural gas power plants. The amount of electricity generated and fed in in coal-fired power plants increased by 26.8% to almost 40 billion kilowatt hours compared to the same quarter in the previous year. With a share of 28.9% of the total amount of electricity fed in, coal was the most important energy source for electricity generation in the first quarter of 2021. Electricity fed in from natural gas power plants increased by 24.0% to 22.5 billion kilowatt hours.

Grid feed-in in the first quarter of 2020 in billion kWh and shares in %

• Total grid feed-in: 141.9 billion kWh | 100%
• Conventional energy sources: 69 billion kWh | 48.6%
  Including:
  • Coal: 31.5 billion kWh | 22.2%
  • Nuclear energy: 16.4 billion kWh | 11.5%
  • Natural gas 18.2 billion kWh | 12.8%
• Renewable energy sources 72.9 billion kWh | 51.4%
  Including:
  • Wind power: 49.5 billion kWh | 34.9%
  • Biogas: 7.9 billion kWh | 5.5%
  • Photovoltaics: 6.8 billion kWh | 4.8%

Grid feed-in in the first quarter of 2021 in billion kWh and shares in %

• Total grid feed-in: 138.2 billion kWh | 100%
• Conventional energy sources: 82 billion kWh | 59.3%
  Including:
  • Coal: 39.9 billion kWh | 28.9%
  • Nuclear energy: 16.8 billion kWh | 12.2%
  • Natural gas: 22.5 billion kWh | 16.3%
• Renewable energy sources: 56.2 billion kWh | 40.7%
  Including:
  • Wind power: 33.5 billion kWh | 24.2%
  • Biogas: 7.7 billion kWh | 5.6%
  • Photovoltaics: 6.6 billion kWh | 4.8%

Amount of electricity produced domestically and fed into the grid - change from the 1st quarter of 2021 to the 1st quarter of 2020

• Total grid feed-in: -2.6%
• Conventional energy sources: +18.9%
  Including:
  • Coal: +26.8%
  • Nuclear energy: +2.6%
  • Natural gas: +24%
• Renewable energy sources: -23%
  Including:
  • Wind power: -32.4%
  • Biogas: -1.8%
  • Photovoltaics: -3.1%

Electricity imports increased significantly

The amount of electricity imported increased by 18.4% to 12.2 billion kilowatt hours in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020. Electricity imports from the Czech Republic rose the most at +220%, while imports from France fell significantly at -44.7%.

The amount of electricity exported fell by 4.3% to 20.1 billion kilowatt hours. Overall, more electricity was still exported from Germany than imported into Germany.

From 2008 to 2010, the Czech Republic was attractive with its support for solar systems until funding stopped in the area of ​​solar fields and solar park concepts in 2011. At the moment there is only funding for existing systems. Around 20% of Czech electricity is said to come from renewable energy sources, but mainly from biomass and waste incineration.

Suitable for:

• EU: Waste incineration is renewable energy

According to the state energy concept 2040, the two nuclear power plants should produce almost half of Czech electricity.

Amount of electricity imported and exported - change from the 1st quarter of 2021 to the 1st quarter of 2020

• Imported electricity volume: +18.4%
• France: -44.7%
• Netherlands: +47%
• Austria: +30%
• Czech Republic: +220%
• Other countries: +14.7%
• Amount of electricity exported -4.3%

Amount of electricity imported and exported in the 1st quarter of 2020

• Amount of electricity imported: 10.3 billion kWh
• France: 3.8 billion kWh
• Netherlands: 1.7 billion kWh
• Austria: 1 billion kWh
• Czech Republic: 0.5 billion kWh
• Other countries: 3.4 billion kWh
• Amount of electricity exported: 21 billion kWh

Amount of electricity imported and exported in the 1st quarter of 2021

• Amount of electricity imported: 12.2 billion kWh
• France: 2.1 billion kWh
• Netherlands: 2.5 billion kWh
• Austria: 1.3 billion kWh
• Czech Republic: 1.6 billion kWh
• Other countries: 3.9 billion kWh
• Amount of electricity exported: 20.1 billion kWh

• Plan photovoltaics for warehouses, commercial halls and industrial halls
• Industrial plant: Plan a photovoltaic open-air system or open-space system
• Plan solar systems with photovoltaic solutions for freight forwarding and contract logistics
• B2B solar systems and photovoltaic solutions & advice

• Build and plan solar carport

Therefore for solar carports and solar systems on roofs – advice and planning!

Konrad Wolfenstein

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