Wind energy overtakes nuclear energy in Germany for the first time ever

Muenster, Germany - In 2016, the generation of electricity in Germany from onshore and offshore wind turbines will overtake that from nuclear power plants. This is revealed by an initial extrapolation from current data carried out by IWR, a renewable energy institute.

The reasons for this twofold: the construction last year of further wind turbines, the power produced from which will be included in the generation data for the first time in 2016, and the current shutdown of a number of nuclear power plants (Grohnde, Philippsburg 2 and Gundremmingen B) over an extended period of time.

One of the main factors driving the boost in the generation of wind power are the offshore wind turbines, which will achieve full production capacity this year. "In 2016, German offshore wind turbines alone will definitely be able to beat the 10 billion kilowatt hour electricity mark", explained IWR Director Dr. Norbert Allnoch.

At 88 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), power generation from wind energy in Germany in 2015 lagged only slightly behind production from nuclear energy (91.8 billion kWh). For 2016, IWR is expecting a decrease in electricity generation from German nuclear power plants to significantly below 90 billion kWh and thus to the lowest level since it began in the early 1980s. The generation of wind power in Germany could, depending on annual wind levels, hit 100 billion kWh for the first time ever.

Source: IWR Online, May 05 2016