Who produces the most green electricity? Private individuals or investors?

Green electricity: Renewable electricity is a private matter – Image: Statista

Distribution of installed renewable energy capacity in Germany in 2019

• Private individuals – 30.2%
• Energy suppliers – 17.2%
• Project developers – 14.2%
• Funds/Banks – 14.1%
• Businesses – 13.2%
• Farmers – 10.2%
• Other 0.8%

Willingness to pay a higher electricity price for renewable energies

Willingness to pay a higher electricity price for renewable energies – Image: Xpert.Digital

This statistic deals with the results of a survey on the willingness to pay a higher electricity price for the use of renewable energies. At the time of the survey, 52 percent of respondents stated that the increase in energy prices for private consumers and businesses should be slowed.

What is more important to you: a rapid energy transition or cheap electricity prices?

• Slowing the rise in energy prices for private consumers and businesses – 52%
• Rapidly advance the energy transition without nuclear power – 40%
• Both equally important – 4%
• Don't know, no information – 4%

*Computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI); Focus, No. 5/2014, page 16; The source provides no information on the type of survey, the number of respondents, or the time of the survey.

Amount of the EEG surcharge for household electricity customers until 2022 – Image: Xpert.Digital

In 2022, private households in Germany paid 3.72 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity for the EEG surcharge. The EEG surcharge is used to promote renewable energies under the Renewable Energy Sources Act. It is part of the electricity price and represents the difference between the market price for electricity and the feed-in tariff for renewable energy sources.

Composition of the electricity price

In 2020, residential customers in Germany paid an average of 33.8 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity under the basic supply tariff. The electricity price in Germany is composed of various components. The EEG surcharge, network charges, and the "procurement and distribution" factor have so far accounted for the largest share of the total price.

Industrial electricity prices

Electricity prices for industry in Germany have tended to rise since the turn of the 20th century. However, if prices are considered without taking the levied electricity tax into account, a price decrease can be observed in Germany. As with private households, the electricity price for industry is currently composed primarily of network charges, procurement and distribution costs, and the EEG surcharge. In a European comparison, Malta, Ireland, and Cyprus have the highest industrial electricity prices.

Amount of the EEG surcharge for household electricity customers in Germany in the years 2003 to 2022 (in euro cents per kilowatt hour)

• 2003 – 0.41 euro cents
• 2004 – 0.54 euro cents
• 2005 – 0.63 euro cents
• 2006 – 0.78 euro cents
• 2007 – 0.96 euro cents
• 2008 – 1.15 euro cents
• 2009 – 1.3 euro cents
• 2010 – 2.15 euro cents
• 2011 – 3.53 euro cents
• 2012 – 3.59 euro cents
• 2013 – 5.28 euro cents
• 2014 – 6.24 euro cents
• 2015 – 6.17 euro cents
• 2016 – 6.35 euro cents
• 2017 – 6.88 euro cents
• 2018 – 6.79 euro cents
• 2019 – 6.41 euro cents
• 2020 – 6.76 euro cents
• 2021 – 6.5 euro cents
• 2022 – 3.72 euro cents

*The figures for the years from 2019 onwards were taken from the same publications of the previous year. The figures for the years 2010 to 2018 are taken from the reports of the four transmission system operators. The figures for the years before 2010 are taken from the publication “Exemption of energy-intensive industries in Germany from energy levies”, published in 2012.