Combined, Germany’s wind and solar electricity output last year reached 76.9 terrawatt-hours according to an analysis by Platts.
The record level was around 4% higher than 2012.
Platts says wind energy output reached a record 47.2 TWh in 2013, up 3%, and solar power output increased 6% to reach 29.7 TWh for 2013.
“Both solar and wind also hit new hourly records in 2013 with wind power output rising for the first time above 26 GW on December 5, while hourly solar output reached 24 GW in July,” states Platts.
“Strong solar output at times also combined with high wind power output to set a new record for intermittent renewable output above 36 GW on April 18.”
Wind capacity in Germany is currently estimated to be around 33GW and solar panel capacity eclipsed 35.5GW in November last year. The nation is expected to bypass the 70GW mark for installed wind and solar in the first half of this year.
While solar and wind subsidies have put pressure on power prices, lower electricity wholesale costs resulting from Germany’s renewables drive is finally feeding through to consumer prices.
Platts says spot power on average were 13% lower than in 2012, while year-ahead prices fell to their lowest level in over eight years.
Power consumption also fell again last year and German net power exports are estimated to have reached a new record in 2013 at around 33 TWh.
Combined wind and solar generated electricity accounted for around 13% of Germany’s power consumption last year, with total renewables output including hydro and biomass accounting for almost 25% of the country’s energy mix in 2013.
Platts is a global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information.
