Tensions in the Middle East are not only keeping the stock markets on tenterhooks. Germans, too, are worried, particularly about rising energy prices. “If we needed any further reason to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy, we have it now”, says Andreas Ehrbar, Chief Operating Officer of the aream Group.

According to a survey conducted by the energy company E.ON, nine out of ten Germans fear that the war in Iran will lead to further rises in energy prices. 80 per cent of all respondents would like to see Germany become less dependent on energy imports from abroad. More than half of those surveyed are calling for a faster implementation of the energy transition. This is because the expansion of renewable energies and the electrification of transport and heating reduce the need to import energy sources.

The expansion of renewables therefore not only makes Germany more independent and protects against price volatility risks – it can also save hard cash. The war in Iran demonstrates this: according to a calculation by the European industry association SolarPower Europe, the use of photovoltaics had already saved Europe 12.8 billion euros by 2 June. On average, this amounted to 136 million euros per day.

“The energy transition must therefore be consistently driven forward”, said Ehrbar. Some progress has already been made. Last year, for instance, wind and solar power generated more electricity in the EU than fossil fuels for the first time. According to the analysis firm Ember, wind and solar accounted for a record 30 per cent of EU electricity production, just ahead of fossil fuels (29 per cent).

The German solar plants in the aream portfolio achieved a stable performance last May despite curtailments of around 1,850 MWh; without curtailments, they would have reached 108 per cent of their target, but instead achieved a solid 82 per cent. “The curtailed volumes are compensated,” explains Ehrbar.

The solar plants in Spain achieved only 64 per cent of their target in May. Although production was solid here too, 3,400 MWh was lost due to curtailment despite good irradiation levels. Without curtailment, a target achievement of 102 per cent would have been reached here as well. Around 2,100 MWh of this will be compensated.

Ehrbar emphasises that there would be no need for curtailment in either country if there were more battery storage: “That would not only be good for us as producers, but also for electricity customers, as electricity prices would then fall due to savings on redispatch.” 

The aream plants in Italy also delivered stable production despite significantly below-average hours of sunshine (84 per cent of target achieved). A shutdown lasting several weeks due to grid disruptions cost around 120 MWh. May was another month with very little wind. Added to this was a prolonged plant shutdown due to a grid loss, which resulted in a reduction in output of around 400 MWh. Overall, the aream wind farms in Germany therefore achieved only 63 per cent of their target.