The objective of this article is to analyze the technical potentials, the regional! distribution, and the corresponding costs of all renewable energy sources that could be used in the Federal Republic of Germany. Therefore we distinguish among options for producing electricity (hydropower, wind energy, photovoltaic usage of solar energy), options for producing solid and liquid energy carriers (energy plantations), options for using residual products (residual wood, straw, biogas from animal wastes, other organic waste), and options for the direct covering of heat demand (solar and geothermal heating). For these different possibilities the technical energy potentials and the corresponding costs are presented and discussed on the background of the current energy system. Finally, conclusions are drawn about the current chances and the given restrictions of these renewable energy sources in the Federal Republic of Germany.