Paderborn district cracks 100 percent mark for green electricity

The district of Paderborn has achieved a climate target that can currently only be dreamed of nationwide. It has a green electricity supply of more than 100 per cent. This year, with the help of wind, sun, biomass and water, for the first time as much renewable electricity is being generated as is being consumed. Since the end of June, it has been exactly 112 per cent.

Annual consumption: 2.3 billion kilowatt hours

This is what the State Association for Renewable Energies in OWL determined. The association used figures from the State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (LANUV) as well as current data from the district of Paderborn. According to these figures, the more than 500 wind turbines, 11,500 photovoltaic systems and 53 biomass power plants generate slightly more electricity on an annual average than private individuals, trade and industry in the district of Paderborn require over the year: Almost 2.3 billion kilowatt hours.

Second place for Höxter district with 63 per cent green electricity

This puts the Paderborn district in the Champions League nationwide: "There are very few regions that already fulfil the 100 per cent green electricity quota - in NRW, we are the first and so far the only one," says Kerstin Haarmann (Paderborn), Managing Director of LEE OWL. This is particularly remarkable because the district of Paderborn has a national average electricity consumption due to its share of industry. Smaller districts with little industry and commerce would naturally find it easier to reach 100 per cent. In a comparison of East Westphalia, the district of Paderborn is the lone leader: the district of Höxter is in second place with 63 per cent green electricity, followed by the district of Lippe with 23.5 per cent, Gütersloh with 20.8 per cent, Minden-Lübbecke with 17 per cent and Herford with 6.5 per cent. Bringing up the rear is the city of Bielefeld with a 4.5 per cent share of green electricity in electricity consumption.

Renewables account for 27 per cent of total energy demand

The district of Paderborn has even achieved its climate target, which was unanimously approved by the district council in 2011, ahead of schedule. The plan was for electricity consumption to be completely renewable by 2020. "However, we don't have time to rest on our laurels in the fight against climate change," explains Jürgen Wrona (Delbrück) from the LEE OWL board. Measured in terms of total energy demand (electricity, heat and transport), the proportion of renewables in the Paderborn district is currently only around 27 per cent. "There is room for improvement, especially in the areas of heating and transport," says Wrona.

Source: Press release from the NRW Energy Agency dated 8 August 2018