25 Aug 2020 | 12:21 UTC — London

Germany needs annual 8.7 GW solar, wind growth to reach 2030 target: BDEW

Highlights

EEG reform planned for autumn, financing details key

Renewables reached record 50% share in H1 power mix

Germany targets 65% share 2030, demand set to grow

Germany needs to add some 5 GW of solar and 3.7 GW of onshore wind capacity each year to achieve its 2030 target of renewables having a 65% share in the power mix, utility lobby group BDEW said Aug. 24.

It called for a technology-specific expansion path to be set by a planned reform of Germany's renewable energy law (EEG) in September.

BDEW expects power demand to grow by 2030, contrary to a flat assumption by the government, driven by electric vehicles and green hydrogen targets.

In September 2019, the BDEW calculated that the 65% target would mean 389 TWh/year of green power requiring renewable energy capacity in the range of 215 GW and 237 GW by 2030.

That compared with around 244 TWh generated by renewables in 2019.

The EEG reform is to address a number of issues including financing new projects as well as limiting the impact of legacy projects on the EEG levy paid by all consumers.

Meanwhile, some 12 GW of offshore wind capacity are to be tendered over coming years to achieve a 20 GW 2030 target, with details to be set by an offshore wind law.

Another issue that needs resolving is the future support for renewable assets that run out of 20-year contracts this decade impacting some 35 GW of first generation units online before 2010.

GERMAN ANNUAL WIND, SOLAR ADDITIONS (GW)

Wind*
Solar
Combined
2008
1.7
1.8
3.5
2009
1.9
3.8
5.7
2010
1.4
7.4
8.9
2011
2.0
7.5
9.5
2012
2.3
7.6
9.9
2013
3.0
3.3
6.3
2014
4.8
1.9
6.7
2015
5.8
1.5
7.3
2016
5.4
1.5
6.9
2017
6.5
1.8
8.3
2018
3.4
2.9
6.3
2019
2.0
3.9
5.9

Source: S&P Global Platts, BNetzA, BWE, BSW