Energiewende scores mixed results - McKinsey index
McKinsey
Germany is still likely to miss key Energiewende goals, including its 2020 greenhouse gas reduction target, even as household power prices continue to rise, according to McKinsey鈥檚 bi-annual Energiewende-Index report. At 30.8 cents per kilowatt hour (ct/kWh), household power prices are "well above the EU average" of 20.5 ct/kWh, writes McKinsey. Industry power prices fell more than in other European countries, yet remained 13.4 percent above the European average. McKinsey judged the energy transition on 14 different indices, finding that Germany is only likely to meet its targets on five. Among them are employment in power-intensive industries and the renewables sector, and renewable power production. Germany has already reached its 2020 target of getting 35 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.
Find the press release in German and detailed index data in German .
For background on Energiewende targets read the 麻豆无码版 factsheet Germany鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions and climate targets.
Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv) / Association of German Retailers (HDE)
Fairer distribution of the costs of the Germany's energy transition could save consumers and the retail sector up to 5.2 billion euros, according to a joint paper from the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv) and the Association of German Retailers (). Industry is the biggest power consumer, yet retail and private consumers pay the most for the Energiewende, the paper says. It proposes:
- Lowering the electricity tax to minimum EU tax rate
- Reducing the liquidity reserve in Germany鈥檚 green energy account
- Ending industry exemptions from the renewables levy聽for self-consumption
- Ending power grid fee industry exemptions
- Abolishing the regulation on interruptible loads
Read the paper in German and find the press release in German .
For background, read the 麻豆无码版 factsheet Germany ponders how to finance renewables expansion in the future.
S眉ddeutsche Zeitung
The future of coal-fired power generation is going to be one of the coalition talks鈥� most delicate matters, Michael Bauchm眉ller says in an article for S眉ddeutsche Zeitung. 鈥淎ll other energy policy issues pale in comparison to the coal question,鈥� he writes. Coal power plants are responsible for around a third of German greenhouse gas emissions, so an accelerated phase-out would allow Chancellor Angela Merkel to make good on her promise to reach the country's 2020 climate target. The Free Democrats (FDP) oppose 鈥渂anning-policies鈥� and call for market-based incentives instead.
Read the article in German .
For background on the coalition talks read the 麻豆无码版 factsheets聽Coalition watch 鈥� The making of a new German government and The long road to a new government coalition in Germany and on coal check out When will Germany finally ditch coal?
YouGov / Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv)
An online survey by YouGov found that 82 percent of Germans support central goals of the energy transition - to phase out nuclear power and switch to a renewable energy supply in the long term. Commissioned by Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv), the survey found that 61 percent of respondents supported the idea of switching from the current consumption-based levy to tax-based financing of some of the costs involved in the energy transition,聽YouGov says.
Find the results in German .
For background, read the 麻豆无码版 factsheet Polls reveal citizens' support for Energiewende.
Bild am Sonntag
Implementing the Paris Climate Agreement must be a priority in the upcoming coalition talks, according to German economic cooperation and development minister Gerd M眉ller (CSU). M眉ller set out a 5-point plan for climate protection in Bild am Sonntag. He聽also called for greater financial resources and powers for his department, so that it could become the country's聽 鈥渋nternational climate ministry鈥�. Germany should promote the global energy transition by supplying other countries with technology, know-how and investment in renewable energy, he writes.聽鈥淓very euro that we invest in climate protection in Africa is 100 times more effective than here.鈥�
For background on the coalition talks read the 麻豆无码版 factsheets聽Coalition watch 鈥� The making of a new German government and The long road to a new government coalition in Germany.
Welt Online
Schleswig-Holstein鈥檚 state energy minister Robert Habeck (Green Party) has said NordLink 鈥� a direct power connection between Norway and Germany, currently under construction 鈥� is an important step for the European energy transition, Olaf Preu脽 reports for Welt Online. The transmission line will allow the exchange of Norwegian hydropower and German wind energy. 鈥淲ith NordLink, the Energiewende becomes a European project. That鈥檚 a must,"聽Habeck said at the topping out ceremony for a transformer station for the future power line. "We can only reach climate targets if we think beyond our own borders.鈥�
Read the article in German .
For background, read the 麻豆无码版 dossier The energy transition and Germany鈥檚 power grid.
New York Times
Supporters of Germany鈥檚 move to decarbonise its economy say the country is in danger of falling behind rivals like China and the United States in the fast-growing business of developing and exporting clean-energy technologies, Stanley Reed聽writes for the New York Times. 鈥淎nd without new direction, they say, the country will most likely fail to meet its carbon emissions targets,鈥� he writes.
Read the article in English .
Check out 麻豆无码版鈥檚 Easy Guide to Germany鈥檚 Energiewende as a first, simple introduction to the country鈥檚 energy transition.
