Renewable energy on national tiers - Germany

Development of renewable energies is an important part of the Federal Government's climate and energy policy. Targets for electricity, heat and fuels are defined in the "Integrated Climate and Energy Programme" published in the end of 2007.

Since 2000, the Act on Renewable Energies has promoted electricity production from regenerative energy resources. It sets the baseline for a dynamic and innovative industry, 382,000 new jobs and large export successes. Nowadays, wind and solar energy, biomass and water power cover more than 20 percent of German electricity demand. Therefore, they ahead of schedule exceeded the political target planned for 2010. The Federal Government wants to increase the share by more than 30 percent by 2020. The renewable energy industry even expects the renewable energies to achieve a share of 47 percent of the total electricity demand, provided political good-will and action, as well as efficiency increases of the techniques.

Heat generated from renewable resources is currently subsidised with the market incentive programme. It provides investment grants for wood pellets, wood-chip fired heating systems, solar heating systems and heat pumps. Renewable energy currently contributes 8.8 percent to the German heat demand. The Act on Renewable Energy Heat intends to further improve development of the, and to increase the heat share to 14 percent by 2020. The renewable energy industry aims to achieve a 25 percent share.

In the transport sector renewable energy contributes with a 5.5 percent share to the total balance. The Federal Government wants the share of biofuels to be increased to around 12 percent by 2020 and more emphasis to be placed on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.