Emission Balance of Renewable Energy Sources in 2014

Abstract

Calculations for the year 2014 show that the expansion of renewable energies contributes substantially to achieving national climate goals in Germany. Over all energy sectors (i.e. electricity, heat and transport) fossil fuels are increasingly replaced by renewable energies thereby permanently avoiding energy related emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and air pollutants. In 2014, GHG-emissions amounting to 151 million tons of CO2-eqivalents have been avoided in Germany through the use of renewables. The main share of these avoided GHGs are coming from the electricity sector.