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 2019 as PDF download.
Final energy consumption
As recently as 2018 renewable energy met a mere 15 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 be the main sources of electricity in 2050; nuclear power and coal will no longer play a role. Today, however, we still obtain the majority of our electricity from non-renewables. In 2018 nuclear power made up more than 30 per cent of electricity generated. By the end of 2022 the last nuclear power plant of Baden-Württemberg will be shut down.
Electricity from renewable sources today
Unlike the national average, Baden-Württemberg’s green electricity is obtained primarily from solar power, biomass and hydropower (as of 2018). Wind power, on the other hand, makes up only 15 per cent of electricity generated from renewable sources. It is therefore our goal to expand wind power in particular.
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.
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 plays an important role in Baden-Württemberg’s power supply. The potential is virtually exhausted; there is little room to expand production. The graphic shows the distribution of biogas plants in Baden-Württemberg’s rural districts. Currently, 950 plants provide 500,700 kW capacity (as of 2018).
A heavyweight in hydropower
In 2018, about 18 billion 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 roadmap to our goal: investing in renewables
Investments are necessary to fully leverage the potential of renewable energy. From 2000-2018 in Baden-Württemberg, over 30 billion euros were invested in the expansion of renewable energy, with the lion’s share going to solar power.
