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According to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Energiebilanzen (AGEB), energy consumption increased compared to the previous year
Photo: Fabian Strauch / dpa
The recovery of the economy after the Corona slump and the relatively cool winter caused energy consumption in Germany to rise in the first half of 2021.
According to calculations by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Energiebilanzen (AGEB), consumption increased by 4.3 percent compared to the same period in the previous year.
The temperature-adjusted consumption values would be more than 7 percent below the value for the first six months of 2019.
Because less wind power was generated than in the previous year, more power was generated with fossil fuels.
The consumption of lignite rose in the first six months of this current year by around a third, that of hard coal by almost 23 percent.
Due to the increased electricity production from lignite and hard coal, carbon dioxide emissions were also 6.2 percent higher than in the same period of the previous year.
In the entire German energy mix, natural gas took the lead for the first time with a share of 30.6 percent, while mineral oil fell into second place with 28.6 percent.
Renewable energies occupy third place with a share of 16.8 percent.
The shares of lignite and hard coal in total consumption increased slightly to a total of 16.6 percent.
In the further course of the year there could be postponements, AGEB announced.
The expansion of renewable energies is seen as crucial so that the higher climate targets set by politicians can be achieved.
The federal government is aiming for a share of 65 percent by 2030, and the expansion of renewable energies is to be given a boost.
In 2022, 1.1 gigawatts more wind turbines and 4.1 gigawatts more photovoltaic systems are to be installed than previously planned.
hba / dpa
