The country’s renewable energy sector, which includes wind, solar, biomass, and earth heat energies, employed around 170,000 people in 2005, up almost 10% from 157,000 in 2004.

And by 2020, some 300,000 people are expected to be employed in the sector, according to research conducted by several independent economic and environmental organizations on behalf of the German Environment Ministry.

Calling renewable energies "a success story," Ministry official Michael Mueller said the sector is a source of innovation, investment, growth and employment in Europe’s largest economy.

"Environmentally oriented innovations help us secure our leading position in technologies, strengthen our competitiveness and create new jobs," he said.

"If we strongly increase the use of renewables, generate energy from fossil energy sources more efficiently and generally use energy in a smarter way, we are helping new technologies to break through," he added.

Already, a growing number of consumers is choosing energy from renewable sources, the research showed.

Last year, the share of renewable energies in electricity consumption increased to 10.2%, compared to a share of 9.4% in 2004.

All told, Germany’s use of renewable energy sources prevented some 83 million tons of carbon dioxide from reaching the atmosphere in 2005 alone, according to the Environment Ministry.

Germany has set ambitious targets to expand its use of renewables.