Green power consumption in Germany climbed 7 percent in the first half of 2017, accounting for more than a third of demand, after more onshore wind capacity was added to the grid, according to the BEE Renewable Energy Federation.
Wind, solar and biomass power consumption as a percentage of all energy demand rose to 35.1 percent through June compared with 32.7 percent at the end of 2016, according to preliminary data published by BEE. The tally was expected to jump after developers rushed to qualify for guaranteed onshore wind subsidies that expired for new projects at the end of last year.
The jump concerns lawmakers from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s co-ruling Christian Democrats, who’ve said capping green power cost growth is a priority after September’s federal election. Merkel’s coalition last year set a maximum share for clean power in total electricity consumption at 45 percent by 2025.
Clean power projects coming online this year and qualifying for guaranteed support are paid 6.88 euro cents (7.83 U.S. cents) a kilowatt-hour. The subsidy added about 23 billion euros ($26.2 billion) in fees to electricity bills last year.