Germany Power Report Q1 2012
Includes 3 FREE quarterly updates
BMI View: Germany stands at the crossroads of a new energy future. No path is without issues, as finding a suitable and rapid replacement for nuclear power will not prove easy. An early commitment to clean coal technology might be the most rational approach, given that it could ease the burden of rising gas imports. However, there have already been setbacks. Germany is currently a leader in renewables, but scaling up the various technologies to replace nuclear power is a real challenge.
Germany's decision to permanently suspend operations at the seven nuclear reactors it mothballed in the immediate aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident, and to reinstate a policy to phase-out nuclear power by 2022, will have a major impact on the country's electricity mix and power sector. With the fate of nuclear power sealed, we believe that gas-fuelled power generation and renewables will see the strongest and most consistent growth.
Key trends and recent developments in the German electricity market include:
Between 2011 and 2021, Germany’s overall power generation is expected to decrease by an annual average of 0.74%, ending the period at almost 632TWh. Key trends within the development of German power generation are a forecast average annual decline of 10.4% in nuclear energy, offset partly by an 6.1% rise in the use of gas-fired power and 7.5% growth in renewables-based generation. Coal-fired generation should fall steadily during the forecast period, although the trend is uncertain given the nuclear decision.
Following an estimated 3.1% increase in 2011 real GDP, BMI forecasts average annual growth of 2.2% between 2011 and 2021. The population is expected to fall from the current level of 82.2mn to 80.9mn during the same period, and net power consumption looks set to increase from 552TWh to 580TWh by 2016, rising further to 608TWh by 2021. During the 2011-2016 period, the average annual growth rate for electricity demand is forecast at 1.00%, but will slow later in the decade to an average of 0.95% in 2016- 2021.
Thanks partly to the forecast modest rise in net generation, the growth of which lags underlying demand, Germany’s historic power supply surplus is set to become a shortfall thanks to the nuclear closure programme. A gradual near-term decline in the percentage of transmission and distribution losses from around 5.1% will help support the market. The theoretical net import requirement by 2016 is put at 6.5TWh, which could increase to 8.8Twh by 2021 if non-nuclear capacity expansion accelerates as planned. There is considerable doubt over Germany’s ability to balance its power market and compensate for nuclear losses. It may be that substantially higher net imports are required over the medium term.
BMI View: Germany stands at the crossroads of a new energy future. No path is without issues, as finding a suitable and rapid replacement for nuclear power will not prove easy. An early commitment to clean coal technology might be the most rational approach, given that it could ease the burden of rising gas imports. However, there have already been setbacks. Germany is currently a leader in renewables, but scaling up the various technologies to replace nuclear power is a real challenge.
Germany's decision to permanently suspend operations at the seven nuclear reactors it mothballed in the immediate aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident, and to reinstate a policy to phase-out nuclear power by 2022, will have a major impact on the country's electricity mix and power sector. With the fate of nuclear power sealed, we believe that gas-fuelled power generation and renewables will see the strongest and most consistent growth.
Key trends and recent developments in the German electricity market include:
Between 2011 and 2021, Germany’s overall power generation is expected to decrease by an annual average of 0.74%, ending the period at almost 632TWh. Key trends within the development of German power generation are a forecast average annual decline of 10.4% in nuclear energy, offset partly by an 6.1% rise in the use of gas-fired power and 7.5% growth in renewables-based generation. Coal-fired generation should fall steadily during the forecast period, although the trend is uncertain given the nuclear decision.
Following an estimated 3.1% increase in 2011 real GDP, BMI forecasts average annual growth of 2.2% between 2011 and 2021. The population is expected to fall from the current level of 82.2mn to 80.9mn during the same period, and net power consumption looks set to increase from 552TWh to 580TWh by 2016, rising further to 608TWh by 2021. During the 2011-2016 period, the average annual growth rate for electricity demand is forecast at 1.00%, but will slow later in the decade to an average of 0.95% in 2016- 2021.
Thanks partly to the forecast modest rise in net generation, the growth of which lags underlying demand, Germany’s historic power supply surplus is set to become a shortfall thanks to the nuclear closure programme. A gradual near-term decline in the percentage of transmission and distribution losses from around 5.1% will help support the market. The theoretical net import requirement by 2016 is put at 6.5TWh, which could increase to 8.8Twh by 2021 if non-nuclear capacity expansion accelerates as planned. There is considerable doubt over Germany’s ability to balance its power market and compensate for nuclear losses. It may be that substantially higher net imports are required over the medium term.
Contents
Executive SummarySWOT Analysis
Germany Power SWOT
Global Industry Overview
Regional Industry Overview
Industry Forecast Scenario
Germany Snapshot (Macro)
Country Snapshot: Economic and Demographic Data
Country Snapshot: Power Sector
Electricity Generation and Power Generating Capacity
Table: Germany Total Generation Data And Forecasts, 2008-2015
Table: Germany Total Electricity Generation Long Term Forecasts, 2014-2021
Table: Germany Electricity Generating Capacity Data And Forecasts, 2008-2015
Table: Germany Electricity Generating Capacity Long Term Forecasts, 2014-2021
Electricity Consumption
Table: Germany Total Consumption Data And Forecasts, 2008-2015
Table: Germany Total Electricity Consumption Data And Forecasts
Transmission & Distribution, Imports & Exports
Table: Germany Electric Power Transmission And Distribution Losses Data And Forecasts, 2008-2015
Table: Germany Electric Power Transmission And Distribution Losses Data And Forecasts
Table: Germany Trade Data And Forecasts, 2008-2015
Table: Germany Trade Data And Forecasts
Key Policies/Market Structure
Regulation and Competition
Sustainable Energy Policies
Pricing
Table: Electricity Prices In the EU Member States, As Of June 2011
Key Projects Database
Table: Major Infrastructure Projects -- Energy & Utilities
Business Environment
Regional Risk/Reward Ratings
Developed States Power Risk/Reward Ratings
Power Risk/Reward Ratings
Germany Power Rating
Rewards
Risks
Competitive Landscape
E.ON
RWE
EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG (EnBW)
Vattenfall
Verbund
Company Monitor
E.ON
Strategy
Latest Developments
RWE
Market Position
Strategy
RWE says its strategy is based on:
Latest Developments
Glossary of Terms
Table: Glossary of Terms
Methodology And Sources
Industry Forecasts
Power Industry - Data Methodology
Generation and Consumption Data
Electricity Generation Capacity Data
Power Risk/Reward Ratings Methodology
Table: Power Risk/Reward Indicators
Sources Skip to top