ABSTRACT
In Germany the share of renewables in primary energy consumption is slightly more than 2 per cent. In 1994, approximately 19 TWh of electricity was produced from hydropower, biomass, wind and photovoltaics. This corresponds to a fraction of approximately 4.3 per cent of total German electricity consumption and is comparable to the electricity production of five to six state-of-the-art hard coal power plants. The economic potential comprises that fraction of the technical potential which is considered economical under very precisely defined boundary conditions. A differentiation is made between individual economic potentials based on an economic approach from the aspect of an individual actor and overall economic potentials. The IKARUS optimization model is a technology-based model and reproduces the integrated energy system of the Federal Republic of Germany from the primary energy level up to the useful energy and energy services level.
