The proportion of power produced by renewable energy in Germany in the first half of 2017 rose to 35% (from 33% last year), according to a report from BEE (www.bee-ev.de) — Germany’s renewable-energy association.

Up to 85% of Germany’s electricity comes from renewable sources on particularly sunny and windy days.

Germany’s transition to renewables started in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2010. The government pledged to phase out nuclear power plants by 2022 and to reduce CO2 emissions by 40%.

However, BEE claims that the transition is slow; it also says that the reduction in carbon emissions will be 30% at most.

Speaking to Deutsche Welle (Germany’s public international broadcaster), BEE acting managing director Harald Uphoff (pictured) said: “It is only with a much greater commitment to the spread of renewable-energy sources — for electricity as well as for heating and transport — that we will be able to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and reach the renewable-energy targets demanded by the EU.

“Climate protection and economic development must no longer be seen as mutually exclusive.”