Renewable Energy in Germany - Renewable Energy Targets

Renewable Energy Targets

Since the passage of the Directive on Electricity Production from Renewable Energy Sources in 1997, Germany and the other states of the European Union have been working towards a target of 12% renewable electricity by 2010. Germany passed this target early in 2007 when the renewable energy share in electricity consumption in Germany reached 14%. In September 2010 the German government announced the following new ambitious energy targets:

• Renewable electricity - 35% by 2020, 50% by 2030, 65% by 2040, and 80% by 2050
• Renewable energy - 18% by 2020, 30% by 2030, and 60% by 2050
• Energy efficiency - Cutting the total energy consumption by 20% from 2008 by 2020 and 50% less by 2050
• Total electricity consumption - 10% below 2008 level by 2020 and 25% less by 2050

The German Government reports that in 2011 renewable energy (mainly wind turbines and biomass plants) generated more than 123 TWh (billion kilowatt-hours) of electricity, providing nearly 20% of the 603 TWh of electricity supplied.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, along with a vast majority of her compatriots, believes that, "As the first big industrialized nation, we can achieve such a transformation toward efficient and renewable energies, with all the opportunities that brings for exports, developing new technologies and jobs".