BERLIN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The share of renewable energy of the electricity produced in Germany has risen to 46 percent in the second quarter of 2019, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) revealed on Friday.
A total of 56 billion kilowatt hours of electricity were produced from renewable energy sources, according to Destatis. This was a 6.3-percent increase over the second quarter of the previous year.
With 43.8 percent, natural gas recorded the highest year-on-year growth rate followed by wind power with 13.6 percent.
With a share of 29 percent, coal remained the most important energy source for electricity production in Germany, followed by wind power with a share of 20 percent, photovoltaics (13 percent) and nuclear power (12 percent), Destatis noted.
Although the share of renewables in Germany increased from 41 percent compared to last year, it is still far behind the national target of 65 percent of renewable electricity generation by 2030.
With 311 million tons emitted last year by electricity production, no other sector in Germany accounted for as many greenhouse gas emissions.
On Friday, the climate cabinet of the German government took decision on several measures to reduce Germany's greenhouse gas emission by 40 percent compared to 1990 levels, according to German media reports.
In the run-up to the meeting, Germany's ruling parties CDU/CSU and SPD have been debating about carbon pricing, measures for Germany's transport sector including alternative fuels and tax reduction on trains as well as improving the energy efficiency of buildings.
