“The energy transition pays off”

The use of renewable energy in electricity, heating and transport saved Germany around 8.16 billion euros in fossil fuel imports in 2015 compared to 1990 levels, according to a report by Germany’s Institute for Applied Ecology (Öko Institute), commissioned by energy and IT company Lichtblick and the environmental organisation WWF (World Wildlife Fund). Around 50 percent, or 4.35 billion euros were in the electricity sector.  In the heating sector, renewables reduced gas imports by around 2.1 billion euros, while in transport, the use of biogas saved around 1 billion euros in fuel imports. While around 25 billion euros was spent in Germany in 2015 on incentives to expand renewable energy, net costs for the import of fossil raw materials were around 66 billion euros, according to the report.

Read the report in German here.

Read the press release in German from WWF here.

Read an article in German in PV magazine about the report here.