The Status Quo: Renewables in Baden-Württemberg
By 2050, 80 per cent of energy in Baden-Württemberg is set to come from renewable sources. So what role do renewable energy sources play currently? Here is a graphic overview of the use and potential of renewable energy sources in Baden-Württemberg. Learn more by the infographics below or the Energy report compact 2015 as PDF download.
End-Use Energy Consumption
As recently as 2010, renewable energy met a mere 11 per cent of Baden-Württemberg’s energy needs. End-use energy consumption was just under 300 terawatt hours per year (TWh/a). Our goal is to reduce energy needs by 49 per cent and to meet 78 per cent of the remaining need with the help of renewable energy by 2050.
A Closer Look: The Electricity Mix in Baden-Württemberg
Wind and solar power will assume the lion’s share of electricity generation in 2050; nuclear power will no longer play a role. In contrast, however, we currently still obtain the majority of our electricity from nuclear power and coal. In 2010, nuclear power made up more than 30 per cent of electricity generated. By 2020 it will be a mere 17 per cent, the same amount obtained from renewable sources today.
Electricity from Renewable Sources Today
Unlike the national average, Baden-Württemberg’s green electricity is obtained primarily from solar power and hydropower (as of 2014). Wind power, on the other hand, makes up only 5 per cent of electricity generated from renewable sources. It is therefore our goal to expand wind power in particular.
In the Future: The Potential of Wind Power
The use of wind power in Baden-Württemberg is set to increase sharply between 2010 and 2020. This diagram shows the increasing amount of wind power plants in Baden-Württemberg since 2004.
The Expansion of Wind Power
The wind map identifies the potential supply. It shows where the wind’s power can be used best in Baden-Württemberg. The north-eastern part of the state in particular has a great deal of potential. Also in the Black Forest, there are many suitable areas for wind turbines.
Solar Power: Already Ahead of the Pack
Baden-Württemberg comes in second place with regards to power generation by solar power plants. We want to maintain this high level.
Biogas Plants in Baden-Württemberg
Biogas takes an important part in Baden-Württembergs power supply. The the potential is virtually exhausted, there is little room to expand the production. The graphic shows the distribution of biogas plants in Baden-Württemberg’s rural districts. Currently, 893 plants provide 319.181 kW capacity (as of 2014).
Hydropower
In 2014, 19.587 million kilowatt-hours of electricity were generated by hydropower in Germany. The two southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg alone supplied 82 per cent of the total amount. The graphic shows the amount of electricity which was generated in Baden-Württemberg beteween 2010 and 2014 (Source: Förderal Erneuerbar)
The Roadmap to Our Goal: Investment in Renewable Energy in Baden-Württemberg
Investments are necessary to fully exploit the potential of renewable energy. Since the year 2000 in Baden-Württemberg about 24.500 million euros were invested in the expansion of renewable energy, with the lion’s share going to solar power.