Statistics on the subject of photovoltaics and the energy transition in Germany

Published on: October 28, 2020 / Updated on: November 9, 2020 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Decision-making aids in the form of data, figures, facts and statistics as a free PDF download, see below.

IMPORTANT: This post does not mention all available documents. These may be added gradually at a later date.

Photovoltaics and the energy transition in Germany – Image: Thinnapob Proongsak|Shutterstock.com

Statistics on photovoltaics in Germany

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German version – To see the PDF, please click on the image below.
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Photovoltaics in Germany – PDF download

Photovoltaic systems convert solar radiation into electrical energy using solar cells. In 2019, approximately 49 gigawatts of photovoltaic capacity were installed in Germany. This generated around 47 terawatt-hours of electricity that same year. The largest solar power generation capacities are located in southern Germany. Bavaria currently has by far the largest capacity, followed by Baden-Württemberg.
Globally, Germany, along with China, the USA, and Japan, is among the leading countries in the use of photovoltaics for electricity generation.

Despite strong growth in recent years, photovoltaics accounts for only a relatively small share of renewable energy electricity generation in Germany: around 18 percent of electricity is produced using photovoltaics. In comparison, onshore wind power is the most important driver of renewable energy electricity generation, accounting for approximately seven percent of total electricity generation.

A look at the market shares of individual companies reveals that the global photovoltaic market is highly fragmented. For example, the leading photovoltaic module manufacturer, Jinko Solar, based in China, holds a market share of only around 14 percent. The German solar cell manufacturer, Hanwha Q-Cells (headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, and Thalheim, Germany), ranks sixth among the largest manufacturers.

Statistics on the energy transition in Germany

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German version – To see the PDF, please click on the image below.
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Energy transition in Germany – PDF download

The goal of Germany's energy transition is to supply electricity, heat, and fuel from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower. The share of renewable energies in total final energy consumption—that is, the energy that reaches the consumer—currently stands at 16.6 percent in Germany. The German government aims to increase this share to 30 percent by 2030 (45 percent by 2040, and 60 percent by 2050). In terms of electricity consumption, this figure is already 42.1 percent. The German government hopes this share will reach 80 percent by 2050.

The most important renewable energy sources for electricity generation are wind, biomass, and solar. Biomass plant operators, for example, are compensated with an average of 19.6 cents per kilowatt-hour fed into the grid, according to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). The costs incurred in promoting electricity generation from renewable energy sources are distributed among electricity consumers via the so-called EEG surcharge. After reaching its peak of 6.88 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2016 and subsequently decreasing as part of the electricity price for residential customers, the EEG surcharge rose slightly again in 2020 to 6.76 cents per kilowatt-hour.

At the beginning of 2013, the offshore grid surcharge (until and including 2018, the "offshore liability surcharge") was added as a new component of the electricity price for end consumers. For residential customers, this meant an additional charge of 0.42 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed in 2020. The offshore grid surcharge was temporarily reduced to almost zero cents between 2015 and 2018. With the offshore grid surcharge, consumers largely cover compensation costs that can arise from delayed connection of offshore wind farms to the domestic transmission grid or from grid outages.

In August 2011, Germany's Atomic Energy Act was amended to stipulate that the remaining nuclear power plants in the country should be decommissioned by the end of 2022. A phase-out of coal is also planned. The output of lignite and hard coal power plants in Germany is to be continuously reduced until 2038, with all coal-fired power plants being shut down by then.

Statistics on the topic of Smart Grid in Germany

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Smart Grid in Germany – PDF Download

The term "smart grid" refers to an intelligent power grid that must be aligned with the needs and requirements of the 21st century. The intelligent power grid optimizes the interaction between electricity producers, storage facilities, consumers, and energy transmission and distribution networks by optimally connecting and monitoring its components through communication and control. The goal is to ensure energy supply based on efficient and reliable system operation.

The energy transition and the associated expansion of renewable energies in Germany inevitably lead to a restructuring of the electricity grid, as electricity is no longer generated solely in large plants but is fed into the grid decentrally. This trend toward a grid with decentralized energy producers necessitates enormous expansion to meet future demands. It is estimated that approximately 200,000 kilometers of grid expansion and upgrades will be required by 2030. Furthermore, renewable energies present the challenge that their reliability of supply is often unpredictable. The interplay between weather conditions and energy production means that, in addition to expanding the electricity grid, the development of storage technologies must also be pursued.

The development of a smart grid also has an impact on private households and consumers. New IT interfaces and modern electricity meter technologies enable greater transparency regarding cost generation and potential savings. Smart meters offer the possibility of remote reading and can factor in fluctuating electricity prices. For example, consumers can run their washing machines when electricity is cheapest due to increased wind power generation or low demand. However, the nationwide rollout of smart meters in Germany is still in its early stages. Currently, only about one percent of households have such electronic metering devices. According to a forecast by Navigant Consulting, around 32.9 million smart meters will be installed in Germany by 2020 (as of 2014).

Expert surveys have revealed that smart grids in the electrical and information technology sectors hold great potential for Germany as a business location. This is also reflected in a survey on the general state of Germany as a hub for innovation. Arguments in favor of using smart home applications include the associated energy savings, increased comfort and convenience in everyday life, as well as the increased property value (as of 2016).

Furthermore, studies by the Fraunhofer Institute (as of 2012) show that, in addition to the energy sector, other industries such as healthcare and transportation can also benefit from the use of smart grids in the form of increased efficiency and economic growth. In the energy sector, the annual savings for Germany are estimated at nine billion euros.

Statistics on the electricity market in Germany

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Electricity market in Germany – PDF download

Electricity generation in Germany has tended to increase over the past 30 years. However, taking the energy transition into account, the share of fossil fuels in electricity generation has decreased in recent years. In contrast, more and more electricity has been produced from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. Within the last ten years, the electricity generation capacity of wind and solar power, for example, has increased significantly. Solar power has increased its electricity generation capacity tenfold in the past decade.

Foreign trade in electricity:
Germany exports increasing amounts of electricity year after year. At the same time, the amount of electricity imported has tended to decrease in recent years. In 2019, Germany exported the most electricity to Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, while France was Germany's most important electricity supplier. Electricity trading volume is traded on the spot and futures markets (EPEX SPOT and EEX, respectively). Monthly price developments on the EPEX spot market can be found here.

The biggest electricity consumers:
Most electricity is currently consumed in China, the USA, and India. Germany recently ranked sixth among countries with the highest electricity consumption. Net electricity consumption in Germany in 2019 was significantly higher than almost 30 years ago.
The largest electricity consumer in Germany is industry – it consumes almost half of the total electricity. The consumer groups "commerce, trade, and services" and "households" each account for a quarter of electricity consumption. In 2019, industry consumed around 234 terawatt-hours of electricity, while households consumed 126. Electricity consumption per person in Germany recently averaged around 7.2 megawatt-hours per year – a figure that is trending downwards.

E.ON as one of the world's largest energy suppliers.
The world's largest energy supplier in 2020 was ENEL, headquartered in Italy. In second and third place were the French company EDF and the Japanese utility Tokyo Electric Power. In Germany, E.ON AG was the largest energy supplier in 2019, measured by revenue. Uniper and Innogy followed. Most recently, German electricity suppliers generated revenues of approximately 77 billion euros.

Statistics on the energy market in Germany

Important note: The PDF is password protected.
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German version – To see the PDF, please click on the image below.
German Version – To view the PDF, please click on the image below.

Energy market in Germany – PDF download

Germany consumes around 13 exajoules of energy – this corresponds to approximately 2.3 percent of global primary energy consumption. This places Germany seventh among the world's largest energy consumers.

Germany generates just under a third of its energy domestically; the rest must be imported. Lignite and renewable energy sources make the largest contribution to domestic energy production. Petroleum, natural gas, and hard coal are largely imported.

Since Germany's energy supply is largely based on fuel imports, making it dependent on countries and regions like the Middle East and Russia, the expansion of renewable energies also serves to reduce this import dependency. Within the last ten years, the share of renewable energies in Germany's energy consumption has more than doubled. It currently stands at around 14 percent.

One of the most important energy suppliers on the German energy market is E.ON, with a revenue of €41 billion and electricity sales of approximately 129 terawatt-hours in 2019. In total, there are around 1,400 electricity suppliers and 1,000 gas suppliers in Germany. The number of supplier switches has increased in both the gas and electricity markets in recent years. For example, almost 1.5 million residential customers switched their gas supplier in 2018, compared to around 700,000 fewer in 2012.

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