Distribution system operators of RWE Rheinland Westfalen Netz paid around EUR 1 billion in feed-in tariffs in 2009 , RWE AG
Release Date: 2010-07-29
Figures for 2009 have shown that the distribution system operators of RWE Rheinland Westfalen Netz paid approximately EUR 1 billion in feed-in tariffs in accordance with the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). Over two million households were supplied from total electricity fed in of approximately 8.1 billion kilowatt-hours (7.9 billion kWh in the previous year), which was generated by close to 57,000 plants. The number of supplying plants increased significantly in the previous year due to the construction of around 14,000 photovoltaic power plants.The largest proportion of electricity was supplied by wind farms and biomass power stations. The photovoltaic plants accounted for approximately 6 per cent of the total electricity fed in but for approximately 24 per cent of the feed-in charges paid. This ratio clearly indicates that photovoltaic energy has been disproportionately subsidized. The additional costs of electricity from power plants using renewable energy sources compared to the market price on the electricity exchange are paid by all electricity consumers in Germany by means of a standardised surcharge imposed across the country in accordance with the EEG. This year, this surcharge amounts to 2.047 cents per kilowatt-hour and can be expected to increase further in the coming years due to the growing electricity volume from power plants using renewable energy sources to generate electricity.
The high number of new plants using renewable energy sources connecting to the grid and the associated changes in network operation constitute a major challenge for system operators. Until now, system operators have performed these tasks successfully. To ensure that this continues into the future, networks must be expanded and designed to be more intelligent.
| Type: | NORMAL |
| Company: | RWE AG |
| Country: | Germany |