In 2022, Hamburg's electricity production saw a slight decrease compared to the previous year, with fossil fuels still dominating the energy market. Natural gas and coal accounted for a combined 74.3% of the total 2.7 million megawatt hours produced, according to data from the Statistical Office for Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein .
Renewable energies made a small yet noticeable increase, contributing 22.5% of the total electricity generation. Major contributors to this percentage include wind energy, accounting for over a third of the renewable energy production, followed by biomass at 25%. Biogas, landfill gas, sewage gas, and sewage sludge make up the remaining share .
Looking ahead, Hamburg is progressively moving towards a more sustainable energy future, focusing on renewable energy expansion and green hydrogen production. The city is particularly interested in expanding its solar and wind power capacities, aiming to reach 115 GW of onshore wind power by 2030. A green hydrogen plant will also be established at the former Hamburg-Moorburg coal-fired power plant, aiming to produce 10,000 tons of green hydrogen annually .
As Hamburg transitions its energy sources, maintaining grid stability and energy storage will be crucial. Germany is exploring solutions such as battery energy storage systems and gas-fired power plants to ensure a dependable energy supply during the transformation .
In contrast, fossil fuel trends show that lignite power will gradually be phased out by 2030. The decommissioning of coal-fired power plants like the Hamburg-Moorburg plant also marks an essential step in the shift to renewable energy sources .
Enrichment Data integrated into the article:
: Statistics North revealed that during 2022, the city's electricity generation decreased by almost 5.8%. Although renewable energies saw a slight increase, fossil fuels still maintained their dominance in the energy market.
: Hamburg's energy transition is focused on expanding renewable energy sources, particularly solar and wind power. Renewable energy expansion is also expected to include green hydrogen production. The decommissioning of coal-fired power plants and phasing out lignite power are key components of this transition.
