Electricity generation in the first quarter of 2021: More electricity again from conventional energy sources. A spring with little wind resulted 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 and fed into the grid in Germany. According to preliminary results from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), this was 2.6% less than in the first quarter of 2020. While the majority of electricity in the first quarter of 2020 came from renewable energy sources (51.4%), 59.3% of electricity in the first quarter of 2021 was generated from conventional energy sources. Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, electricity fed into the grid from conventional energy sources increased by 18.9%. In contrast, electricity fed into the grid from renewable energy sources decreased by 23.0%.
Photovoltaics also delivered less electricity (3.2%) compared to the previous year, which again demonstrates that photovoltaics are less sensitive to fluctuations compared to wind power. The solar carport strategy and mandatory solar panel are intended to accelerate the expansion of ground-mounted photovoltaic systems .
In particular, electricity generation from wind power declined sharply, by 32.4% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The 33.5 billion kilowatt-hours fed into the grid was the lowest figure for a first quarter since 2018. In 2019 and 2020, electricity generation from wind power reached significantly higher levels in the first quarter due to strong and prolonged spring storms. In contrast, the first quarter of 2021 was comparatively windless.
Coal was 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 reduced in output due to the large amount of wind power and the priority given to electricity from renewable energy sources. In the first quarter of 2021, however, the lower amount of wind power was primarily compensated for by increased electricity generation from coal and natural gas power plants. The amount of electricity generated and fed into the grid from coal-fired power plants increased by 26.8% compared to the same quarter of the previous year, reaching almost 40 billion kilowatt-hours. With a share of 28.9% of the total electricity fed into the grid, coal was the most important energy source for electricity generation in the first quarter of 2021. Electricity fed into the grid from natural gas power plants increased by 24.0% to 22.5 billion kilowatt-hours.
Grid feed-in Q1 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 1st quarter 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%
Domestically produced and fed-in electricity volume – change from Q1 2021 to Q1 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 have risen significantly
Imported electricity increased by 18.4% to 12.2 billion kilowatt hours in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020. Imports from the Czech Republic saw the strongest growth at +220%, while imports from France declined significantly by -44.7%.
The amount of electricity exported fell by 4.3% to 20.1 billion kilowatt hours. Overall, Germany continued to export more electricity than it imported.
From 2008 to 2010, the Czech Republic was attractive due to its subsidies for solar power plants , until subsidies for solar fields and solar park concepts were halted in 2011. Currently, subsidies are only available for existing plants. Around 20% of Czech electricity is expected to come from renewable energy sources, primarily from biomass and waste incineration.
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Furthermore, according to the state's 2040 energy plan, the two nuclear power plants are expected to produce almost half of the Czech Republic's electricity.
Imported and exported electricity volume – change from Q1 2021 to Q1 2020
- Imported electricity volume: +18.4%
- France: -44.7%
- Netherlands: +47%
- Austria: +30%
- Czech Republic: +220%
- Other countries: +14.7%
- Exported electricity volume -4.3%
Electricity imported and exported in the first quarter of 2020
- Imported electricity: 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
- Exported electricity volume: 21 billion kWh
Electricity imported and exported in the first quarter of 2021
- Imported electricity: 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
- Exported electricity volume: 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
Therefore, for solar carports and solar systems on roofs – consultation and planning!
Konrad Wolfenstein
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Xpert.Digital – Konrad Wolfenstein
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