What is the highest percentage ever recorded of Germany's total
electical energy output that came from wind power?  (I heard in a
lecture somewhere that it reached 60% at one time, and I wanted to
check the validity of that statement.)

Hello doktorschatten,

""Within a generation (...) one fourth of our current electricity
needs will be generated with environmentally-friendly wind power,"
says environment minister Jürgen Trittin."
Source: Another Record Year for European Wind Power (Jan 20, 2002)
http://www.ewea.org/doc/20-02-02%20European%20Wind%20Energy%202001%20stats.pdf

Considering that the environment minister is talking about 25% in a
generation (dated Jan 20, 2002) I would say that the statement is not
true.

Though wind power now accounts for just 3.5% of Germany's energy
consumption, it is expected to grow rapidly.
Source: Germany Boosts Wind Power (Jan 16, 2002)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1765054.stm

Germany has 9,375 wind power units, producing around 11.5 billion
kilowatt hours of electricity that covers 2.5 percent of domestic
demand.
Source: Germany is Undisputed Wind Power Champion (Jan 16, 2001)
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=9530

Perhaps the following was quoted by your lecturer out of context: 
"In Germany, 2001 was a record-year that surpassed the already
impressive growth from 2000 by 60%. As of December 31st, 2001, 11,438
turbines with an installed capacity of 8,753.8 MW were operating in
Germany."
Source: Wind Power in Germany: Current Status and Future Prospects
http://www.just-ask-us.de/bwe/cd2-e.html

I hope that this is the answer you were looking for. If you need any
clarifications, please let me know and I will do my best to further
assist you.

tisme-ga


Search Strategy: 

"wind power" germany
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"wind power" germany record
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Thank you for providing such a detailed answer!  I went online for
hours and couldn't find anything...