Indicator 7.2.a Share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption

Text from the Indicator Report 2022 

For this indicator, the electricity generated from renewable sources, which include hydro power, onshore and offshore wind power and solar power, the heat generated from sources such as geothermal energy, biomass and biogenic waste and the consumption of regenerative motor fuels are presented as a percentage of the energy generated from all sources that is consumed in Germany. Besides renewables, these sources also include imported electricity and fossil fuels such as coal and lignite, oil and gas.

The indicator is calculated by AGEE-Stat, the Working Group on Renewable Energy Statistics. In contrast to the reporting under the Renewable Energy Directive of the European Union (Directive 2009/28/EC), uses an average value for hydro and wind power over several years to smoothen the effects of varying supply, this indicator takes account of the volumes of electricity actually generated from wind and hydro power (German Government Energy Concept).

With regard to the method used to calculate the indicator, it should be noted that imports and exports of electricity are not included in full in the consumption of energy from renewable sources, whereas they are factored into gross final energy consumption. Accordingly, the indicator may overstate or understate the ratio of energy from renewable sources to gross final energy consumption, depending on the balance of trade. If there were an export surplus for electricity – as has been the case since 2001 – the actual percentage of renewables in the energy mix would be lower than the level represented by the indicator.

The intended share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption for 2020 was achieved by 19.7 %. Thus, the target value of 18 % by 2020 was exceeded. In 2021, the share of renewable energies decreased to 19.2 % and is not heading towards the upcoming target value of 30 % by 2030. However, the indicator shows a significant increase long-term (2005: 7.1 %).

The use of renewables varies widely between sectors. In 2021, the share accounted for 41.1 % of gross electricity generation, 16.5 % of final energy consumption for heating and cooling and 6.8 % in the transport sector. Among renewable energies, biomass, with a share of 58.0 % and wind power, which accounts for 24.0 %, play the greatest part in primary energy consumption in 2020 (more recent data was not available at the time of going to press).

The indicator has cross-references to indicators 3.2.a “Emissions of air pollutants”, 7.2.b “Share of electricity from renewable sources in gross electricity consumption” and 13.1.a “Greenhouse gas emissions”.

The synoptic table provides information about the evaluation of the indicator in previous years. It shows if the weather symbol assigned to an indicator was rather stable or volatile in the past years. (Evaluation of the Indicator Report 2022 )

Indicator	7.2.a Share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption
Target	Increase to 18 % by 2020 and to 30 % by 2030, to 45 % by 2040 and to 60 % by 2050
Year	2018	2019	2020	2021
Evaluation