An analysis of the European electricity network operator came to this result, announced the International Economic Platform for Renewable Energies (IWR) in Munster. "In the period between the 7th and the 10th of February, Germany was always a net electricity exporter", said IWR Director Dr. Norbert Allnoch in Munster. France, however, depended on imports and aid from neighbouring countries during the whole period of analysis, Allnoch says. The German government denied the news, spread by the Welt am Sonntag (WamS), that a crisis team has been set up.
Germany exports power constantly
Germany exported more power than it imported at every hour of the examined period. The power demand reached an average of 49,400 megawatts (MW). At this point, the cold reserve is activated. This has caused much discussion about the alleged shortage of electricity in Germany’s media. The peak demand for electricity in Germany was reached between 6 and 7 pm on 8.2.2012 with 57,023 MW. Even at this time of high demand, Germany could export considerable amounts of power to its neighbours, for instance to Switzerland (1,603 MW), France (761 MW), Poland (1,034 MW), and Austria (614 MW). In sum, the current export reached, on balance, approx. 2,900 MW during this hour. This corresponds to the performance of almost three nuclear power plants. The total capacity of all power generation capacity in Germany is still at 160,000 MW—even after the shutdown of nuclear power plants. Together, wind and solar energy plants have contributed to Germany’s electricity generation at any time during the period; at peak times wind and solar energy produced more than 11,000 MW.
France in need: Energy consumption rises to about 100,000 MW
Because of the cold weather, the demand for electricity has risen to a record level in France. French houses are often heated with electricity; moreover, they are often poorly isolated. In the period under examination, the French power requirement was almost twice as high as in Germany. Between 7.2. and 10.2.2012, France thus had to rely on all of its neighbours; despite the high number of nuclear power plants, France needed to import energy at every hour. In France, the peak demand for energy was also reached on the 8.2.2012 between 6 and 7 pm; the demand for power, however, exceeded 100,000 MW. Great Britain (1,978 MW), Belgium (2,011 MW), Germany (761 MW), Italy (722 MW), and Switzerland (1,625 MW) had to help out: Only during this hour of peak demand, they delivered more than 7,000 MW to France.
Based on an IWR Press Release.
