A Reporter's Guide to the Energy Transition
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# first climate law #phasing out nuc lear
# renewables sh are overtakes coal
A Reporter’s Guide
to the Energy Transition
#climate ch ange
# coa l exit #green start up s
# grid expansion
Journalism for the
energy transition
Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
Sven Egenter Kerstine Appunn Sören Amelang Julian Wettengel Benjamin Wehrmann Freja Eriksen Carel Carlowitz Mohn
Editor in Chief Correspondent Correspondent Correspondent Correspondent Correspondent Dir. Media Programmes
The repercussions of the Energiewende funders’ commitment to work towards a
A Note from CLEW (energy transition) are felt across climate-neutral economy in order to limit
society and the business sector, offer- the impact of man-made climate change.
The global energy transition to stem ing journalists a wealth of exciting and
harmful man-made climate change is important stories. But researching this CLEW’s “A Reporter’s Guide to the En-
gaining momentum. As part of this, Ger- massive event from outside the coun- ergy Transition”, now in its eighth edi-
many aims to be greenhouse gas neutral try is no easy task, even for the most tion, offers journalists a useful starting
by 2050. The country’s decades-long effort seasoned reporter. The huge complexity point by outlining the main story lines of
to fundamentally shift its energy supply of the technology and economics behind the energy transition, providing contact
and to run the world’s fourth-largest energy policy make things harder. Yet details for experts, as well as links to key
economy without fuelling global warming strong fact-based and critical journalism literature and articles.
provides valuable lessons on weaning a is essential to inform the international
major economy off fossil fuels. debate on ways to decarbonise the glob- Our website, cleanenergywire.org,
al economy. offers lots more in-depth information
and contacts. Our daily newsletter and
This is why Clean Energy Wire (CLEW) our Twitter feed @cleanenergywire
supports journalists in their work.
keep readers in the loop about Energie-
Fully funded by two non-profit foun- wende-related debates and events.
dations – Stiftung Mercator and the
European Climate Foundation – we enjoy Our growing CLEW Journalism Network
independence from any business or (@ClewNetwork) allows 200 journalists
political interests. Rather, we share our around the world to find colleagues work-
2
Energiewende history – the first four
decades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Power grid expansion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Eva Freundorfer Milou Dirkx Renato Malaga Yannick Haas Transforming the transport sector . . . . 22
Programme Officer Network Manager Assistant Research Assistant The car industry and the energy
transition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Renewables: Wind, solar and bio-
ing on energy transition and climate sto- energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
ries, to collaborate on cross-border stories, Contents
CO2 pricing and renewables support . . . 28
exchange tips and views or collect back- Nuclear phase-out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
What is the Energiewende? And where
ground information from other countries. did it come from? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Industry and jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
We invite all reporters and editors with an Targets of the Energiewende . . . . . . . . . 6 Start-ups and utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
interest in the energy transition and cli- Greenhouse gas emissions . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Heating and efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
mate policy to join. The Energiewende in figures . . . . . . . . . 8 Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Renewables and fossil fuels . . . . . . . . . . 10 Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
We also organise workshops for journa Energiewende dates 2020/2021 . . . . . . 11 Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
lists, offering a first-hand account of the Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Technology, storage and digitalisation . 44
Energiewende. But, most importantly, Reading in English . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Natural gas as a bridging technology? . 46
we provide assistance, answer your Green pioneer Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Cities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
questions, and put you in touch with ex- Green Deal – a joint European project . 16 Green Deal: A joint European project . . 50
perts and fellow journalists across the
globe – so don’t hesitate to ask CLEW. Energiewende in Germany: Timeline
Sven Egenter and
1973-1975 1979/1980
the Clean Energy Wire team “Nuclear power? Enter the Greens
No thanks!” Birth of Germany’s Green
Germany’s anti-nuclear Party is founded, with
movement as protests an exit from nuclear
force plans for a nuclear energy and a renew-
power plant in Wyhl to able future as key
be aborted demands
Activists first use the
term “Energiewende” 3
Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
What is the Energiewende?
And where did it come from?
T he energy transition, known in Ger-
many as the Energiewende, is the
country’s planned transformation into
The process involves:
phasing out nuclear power by 2022
1990s, the Energiewende has been
radically reshaping Germany's energy
system as a whole. The traditional model
a greenhouse gas-neutral, nuclear-free and coal by 2038; and reaching of generating electricity in large power
economy. climate neutrality by 2050 plants is being replaced by a system
the phase-in of renewable energy dominated by millions of renewable
and low-carbon technologies power installations dependent on the
increased energy efficiency weather. But the project’s influence now
goes well beyond the electricity system,
Since the introduction of financial because creating a decarbonised econo-
support for renewable energy in the my also entails using renewable energy
… Energiewende in Germany: Timeline
1986 1991 1997/2005 2000 2007 2010 2011
Chernobyl disaster Kick-starting renew- Kyoto Protocol Renewable Energy Act EU targets Extending nuclear Nuclear phase-out #2
solidifies Germans’ ables Germany, the world’s Renewables granted EU sets 2020 climate The nuclear consensus is Merkel government
resistance to nuclear New legislation intro- sixth largest emitter feed-in tariffs and grid targets: 20% renew reversed by a conserva- formulates new nuclear
energy duces feed-in tariffs at the time, has to priority ables share, 20% GHG tive government phase-out by 2022 with
for renewable power reduce CO2 emissions reduction, 20% more large parliamentary
Climate change under the agreement Nuclear phase-out #1 efficiency Energy concept majority after Fukushi-
enters the discourse – SPD-Green government Govt. sets out renewa- ma disaster
a magazine story leads and utilities agree bles and climate targets
parliament to establish to phase out nuclear for 2020 and 2050
4 an advisory council by 2022
Energiewende
to replace coal, oil, and gas wherever been hit hard and Germany's mighty car
they are burned – be it in industry, industry struggles to shift gears, many
heating, transport, or other sectors. innovative businesses have turned the
upheaval to their advantage. Since the
The transformation unleashed by the energy transition turned into a truly
energy transition has already produced global enterprise with the Paris Climate
many winners and losers. Electricity Agreement and the European Commis-
costs have risen for most consumers, but sion's Green Deal, new markets have
have fallen for many energy-intensive opened up for low-emission technolo-
companies, thanks to industry rebates. gies – and many made in Germany brands
While traditional power companies have see opportunities for growth.
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
New EEG & climate Slow progress Spin-off Renewables New government Climate action package Coal exit law
action The Energiewende Utilities E.ON and RWE Reform Wants to focus on grid Climate cabinet presents Cabinet adopts coal
Govt. lowers feed-in monitoring report split to separate renew Auctions determine expansion and sector major policy package exit law including
tariffs, starts PV auctions shows climate targets ables from fossil plants renewables payments coupling including national car- timetable
and introduces plan to are “in serious danger” bon price
achieve 2020 climate Climate Action Plan G20 & COP23 Utilities shakeup
targets Govt. adopts ambitious Germany tries to main- RWE and E.ON split up Climate action law
2030 emission targets tain climate utility innogy, separating Germany’s first climate
for individual economic leadership, but emis- grids from generation law makes emissions
sectors sions stagnate reduction legally binding 5
Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
Sector targets for greenhouse gas reductions
Targets of the Energiewende Sector
Energy
2019 status
cut from 1990 levels
45.5 %
2030 target
cut from 1990 levels
62.5 %
Buildings 41.9 % 66.7 %
Transport 0.6 % 42 %
T he overall objectives of the Energie-
wende are to phase out nuclear power
and eliminate Germany’s greenhouse
and ending the use of fossil fuels in all
sectors of the economy. Germany has al-
ready exceeded its 2020 target of covering
Industry
Agriculture
Other
33.8 %
24.4 %
76.3 %
50.7 %
35.6 %
86.5 %
gas emissions. 35 percent of power use with renewables, Total 35.7 % "at least" 55 %
Source: UBA (2020), Climate Action Law.
as their share rose to above 40 percent in
The nuclear exit is proceeding according 2019, and is now taking aim at 65 percent country would miss its original 2020 target
to schedule and Germany will switch by 2030. However, renewables’ share of cutting emissions by 40 percent by a
off its last nuclear power plant in 2022. of total energy use, currently at around wide margin, and threatening the entire
Dealing with radioactive waste will, 17 percent, remains comparatively low. project’s credibility. But significant reduc-
however, take many decades. As regards tions in 2018 and 2019 pushed the country
emissions reductions, the picture is more Germany's first Climate Action Law made closer to the target than expected – and an
complex. Germany plans to cut CO2 output emissions reduction legally binding as economic slump caused by the coronavirus
by at least 55 percent by 2030 compared part of a comprehensive climate action now makes it look extremely likely that
to 1990 levels. By 2050, the country aims package that forms the bedrock of Ger- Germany will meet the 2020 goal.
for greenhouse gas neutrality, in line with many's long-term policy. The strategy
the new EU goal. The government has includes a coal exit by 2038 at the latest, The country is still struggling to cut emis-
translated the national targets into annual support for electric vehicles, and a CO2 sions in the transport and heating sectors,
emissions budgets for individual sectors, price for transport and heating to com- however, and is facing a slow-down in the
such as transport and industry, to make plement the EU emissions trading system roll-out of renewable energy. These trends
progress more measurable. covering industry and the power sector. indicate that it will require continued
efforts to meet Germany’s future climate
The most important tools for reaching Progress toward the climate targets was targets, even in the event of a severe reces-
the targets are the roll-out of renewable initially slow. Emissions remained stub- sion caused by the coronavirus pandemic
energies, reducing energy consumption, bornly high for years, suggesting the and consequent steep drop in emissions.
6
Energy transition data
35.7 % green house gas reduction
Emission trends for Germany by sector 1990-2019
since 19 90
1251
1200
1123
1045
993
1000 942
CO2 equivalents in million tonnes
906 909 894
858 2020 target1
805 (-35%)
800
68
Original 2020 target2
(-40%)
813
163
2030 target1
600 751 (at least -55%)
122
543
400
188
2050 goal:
200 green-
house gas
254
neutrality
0
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
00
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
30
50
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
Energy industries Industry Buildings Transport Agriculture Waste and other
1 Targets as stated in Climate Action Law.
2 The German government abandoned its original 2020 target with the introduction of the Climate Action Law in 2019.
Note: Without emissions from land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), 2019 data preliminary. Source: UBA, 2020.
7
Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
© Mwelwa Musonko.
8
Energy transition data
The Energiewende in Figures € 62 billion Volume € 25 per tonne
of German government's CO2 price in building and
climate package transport sector starting
(2020-2023) from 2021
3.6 % Renewables’ share
in gross German power
generation in 1990 47.7 million passenger 136.617 pure electric 1st rank for Germany 17th rank
data
40.1 % Renewables’ cars registered in Germany cars registered = 0.3 % in energy efficiency policy for Germany in the overall
*preliminary
share in gross power (01/2020) (01/2020) and performance score- “Energy Transition Index”
generation in 2019* card (ACEEE, 2018) (WEF, 2019)
14 minutes
Average power outage
in Germany 2018 89 % of Germans believe € 22.9 billion Renew- 316,700 people 20,336 people
USA: 470 mins (2017) increased use and expansion able surcharge paid by employed in the employed in the lignite
GB: 47 mins (2016) of renewables is very impor- power consumers in 2019 renewables sector (2017) industry
Poland: 192 mins (2016) tant or important (2019) (12/2019)
15 % Renewables’ share 42 % Renewables’ share 73.8 % of homes heated € 17 billion Energy effi 23.7 31.4 ct/kWh
in primary energy con- in gross power consump- with oil and gas in 2019 ciency and renewable heat- Average household power
sumption in 2019 tion in 2019 ing investments by economy price 2010 and 2020 –
(up from 1.3 % in 1990) (up from 3.4 % in 1990) ministry (2020-2024) thereof 6.8 ct/kWh renew
able surcharge in 2020
5.1 3.7 ct/kWh
96 % of natural gas 97 % of crude oil 54 % rise in GDP 14 % fall in primary en- Average electricity spot
used in Germany is imported (2018) since 1990 (2019) ergy consumption since market price in 2010
is imported (2018) 1990 (2019) and 2019
9
renewables share has overtaken coa l
Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
Development of gross power production in Germany 1990-2019
Mineral oil Others
Other 21.4 21.7 21.5 0.9% 3.4%
21.1 20.7
600 20.4
Renewables
216.3
Mineral oil 189.7 224.8 242.6
188.8 Natural gas Wind onshore 16.8%
500 Natural gas 162.5
15.1%
terawatt-hours (TWh)
400 61.1 62.0
% shares in 2019
Nuclear power 81.3
86.7
5.2
Nuclear
97.1 82.5 12.4%
91.8 Renewables Wind offshore 4.1%
300 84.6 91.3
76.3 40.1% Hydro power 3.1%
76.0
Hard coal 118.6 117.7
Biomass 7.4%
200 112.2 75.2 Hard coal
92.9
82.6 9.4%
56.9 Solar 7.7%
155.8
100 Lignite
154.5
149.5
148.4 Lignite
145.6 114.0 Others 1%
18.8%
0
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2019
Source: AG Energiebilanzen (2019).
Share of energy sources
Germany’s power export balance 1990-2019 in primary energy consumption 2019
675 60
Power export balance Others
Mineral oil
Net export
650 Gross power generation 50 0.7% Waste 1.0%
Gross power consumption 35.3% Hydro power 0.5%
Wind power 3.6%
625 40
terawatt-hours (TWh)
600 30 Solar 1.6%
Platzhalter
Renewables Biomass 7.6%
575 20 Natural gas x
14.7%
25%
550 10
525 0 Net import
Hard Lignite
coal 9.1% Nuclear Geothermal 0.5%
500 -10 8.8% 6.4%
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
00
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
Source: BMWi (2019). Source: AG Energiebilanzen (2019).
10 Germany remains net electricity exporterCalendar
Energiewende Dates 2020/2021 *
2020 2021
20-21 April: Global Solutions Summit, 9 – 19 November: 2020 UN Climate 13 – 15 January: Handelsblatt Energy
BERLIN. ONLINE Change Conference (COP26), Conference 2021, BERLIN.
Glasgow, UK. POSTPONED
27 – 28 April: 11th Petersberg Climate 9 – 11 February: E-World energy & water
Dialogue, BERLIN. ONLINE 16 – 17 November: dena Kongress, trade fair, ESSEN.
conference by German Energy Agency
4 - 6 May: Berliner Energietage 2020, 14 March: State elections in Rhineland-
(dena), BERLIN.
BERLIN. MOVED TO SUMMER – ONLINE Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg.
17 – 18 June: BDEW Kongress, energy 6 June: State elections in Saxony-Anhalt.
conference by German Association of
Energy and Water Industries (BDEW),
BERLIN.
17 – 19 June: Intersolar Europe, trade
fair, MUNICH. CANCELLED
Calendar
13 - 15 September: EU-China Summit,
LEIPZIG.
28 September: European Sustainable
Finance Summit, FRANKFURT.
* Many events may yet be cancelled due to the coronavirus.
11Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
Contacts
… for official statements Institute for Applied Ecology (Öko-Institut), … for industry comment
Sustainable development consultancy and research
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs institute. +49 30 405085-334, m.schossig@oeko.de, German Association of Energy and Water Indus-
and Energy (BMWi), +49 30 18 615 6121, www.oeko.de/en tries (BDEW), Germany’s largest energy industry as-
pressestelle@bmwi.bund.de, www.bmwi.de/en sociation. +49 30 300 199-1160, presse@bdew.de,
Agora Energiewende, think tank focusing on www.bdew.de
Federal Ministry for the Environment, dialogue with energy policymakers in the pow-
Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), er sector. +49 30 700 1435-110, German Association of Local Utilities (VKU),
+49 30 18 305 2010, presse@bmu.bund.de, christoph.podewils@agora-energiewende.de, representing the many local and regional utilities
www.bmu.bund.de/en www.agora-energiewende.de (Stadtwerke) in Germany. +49 30 58580-226,
luig@vku.de, www.vku.de/en
Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastruc- German Institute for Economic Research (DIW),
ture (BMVI), +49 30 18300-7200, www.bmvi.de/en, DIW’s energy, transportation and environment, and Federation of German Industries (BDI)
neuigkeitenzimmer@bmvi-bund.de climate policy departments study the economics +49 30 2028-1565, j.wiskow@bdi.eu, www.bdi.eu
Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Com- and politics of climate change and energy. German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE)
munity, +49 30 18681 11022, presse@bmi.bund.de Petra Jasper, +49 30 89789-152, pjasper@diw.de, +49 30 275 81 70-16, presse@bee-ev.de,
the experts
www.diw.de/en www.bee-ev.de
… for latest data and research Fraunhofer ISE, solar energy research institute and
publisher of electricity production data. Also see
Agora Verkehrswende, Think tank focusing on their data and graphs at www.energy-charts.de,
the energy transition in the transport sector. +49 761 4588-5147, www.ise.fraunhofer.de
+49 30 700 1435-000, info@agora-
German Renewable Energies Agency (AEE)
verkehrswende.de, www.agora-verkehrswende.de
+49 30 200 535 52, a.schwalbe@unendlich-
AG Energiebilanzen, Energy market research group. viel-energie.de, www.unendlich-viel-energie.de
+49 30 8913987, www.ag-energiebilanzen.de,
h.g.buttermann@ag-energiebilanzen.de
12Contacts & Sources
Reading in English
cleanenergywire.org Our website provides in-depth Federal Foreign Office AG Energiebilanzen (2019) Evalua-
analyses (dossiers), factsheets, news articles, an (2018) The German Ener- tion Tables of the Energy Balance for
expert database, and more. giewende; (2019) Who is Germany 1990 to 2018.
Who of the Energiewende
Agora Energiewende (2020) The German Power Federation of German Industries (BDI)
in Germany. Online database
Market: State of Affairs in 2019; (2020) The Euro- (2018) Climate Paths for Germany – Exec-
of contact partners in politics,
pean Power Sector in 2019; (2013) 12 Insights on utive Summary.
industry and society.
Germany’s Energiewende.
Federal Environment Agency (UBA) (2017) Data on Centre on Regulation in Europe (2015) The energy
International Energy Agency (2020) Germany 2020:
the Environment. transition in Europe: initial lessons from Germany,
Energy Policy Review.
the UK and France.
Agora Verkehrswende (2017) Transforming Trans- Hager, Carol and Christoph H. Stefes (eds.) (2016)
port to Ensure Tomorrow’s Mobility. Germany’s Energy Transition. A Comparative Per- World Economic Forum (2019) Fostering Effective
spective. Energy Transition.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and
Energy (BMWi) website offers a wide range of Ecologic Institute (2020) Climate laws in Europe;
publications in English, including the newsletter (2016) Understanding the Energy Transition in
’Energiewende direkt‘. Germany.
Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) (2019)
Federal Climate Change Act; (2019) Climate Action Energy Research and Social Science (2016) Putting
in Figures. Facts, Trends and Incentives for German an energy system transformation into practice: The
Climate Policy; (2016) Climate Action Plan 2050. case of the German Energiewende.
energytransition.org A website/blog, funded by the German Institute for Economic Research (2015)
Green Party-affiliated Heinrich Böll Foundation, ex- Deep Decarbonisation in Germany. A Macro-Analy-
plaining what the energy transition is, how it works, sis of the Economic and Political Challenges of the
and what challenges lie ahead. ‘Energiewende’.
13Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
#Climate
xxx and CO2 #Fossil Fuels
xxx
Green pioneer Germany adds carbon
price and coal exit to climate policy push
T hanks to its early embracing of
renewable energy, Germany is con
sidered a pioneer in the fight against
2020 climate target and instead pre
sented a longer-term strategy to reach
the country’s 2030 goals and achieve
man-made climate change. Despite climate neutrality by 2050. Ironically,
a rapid rise in power generation from the impacts of the coronavirus mean
wind, solar, and bioenergy, the coun the country is almost certain to reach
try’s track record on cutting greenhouse the 2020 target after all. Germany has
gas emissions is, however, mixed. decided to cut its reliance on burning
Germany expected to miss its original coal for power production by 2038 at the
© RWE AG.
14#Climate and CO2 #Fossil Fuels
Contacts Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons On cleanenergywire.org
and Climate Change (MCC)
Fraunhofer ISE, +49 761 4588-5147, +49 30 3385537-201, lampe@mcc-berlin.net Dossiers:
karin.schneider@ise.fraunhofer.de Europe's largest economy aims to exit coal to reach
Climate Alliance Germany, +49 30 780 899 -514,
IKEM – Institute for Climate Protection climate goals
julia.dittmann@klima-allianz.de
and Mobility Germany's targets under scrutiny in year of global
+49 30 408187-024, dominik.dicken@ikem.de Stiftung 2° climate action
+49 30 204 537 34, laura.toerkel@2grad.org
The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Article:
Research (PIK) Patrick Graichen, Agora Energiewende
+49 30 700 1435-110, Transport and heating tarnish Germany's emission
+49 331 288 25 07, press@pik-potsdam.de cuts in 2019 – researchers
christoph.podewils@agora-energiewende.de
Camilla Bausch, Ecologic Institute Factsheets:
+49 30 86880-0, berlin@ecologic.eu Claudia Kemfert, German Institute for Economic
Research (DIW) Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions and climate
Corinna Seide, WWF Germany +49 30 89789-663, sekretariat-evu@diw.de targets
+49 30 311777-422, corinna.seide@wwf.de Germany's Climate Action Law
Germanwatch Reading Germany's Climate Action Programme 2030
+49 228 60492-23, presse@germanwatch.org Germany's carbon pricing system for transport and
IEA (2020) Energy Policy Review Germany
buildings
Agora Energiewende (2017) The Energiewende
Spelling out the coal exit – Germany's phase-out plan
in a nutshell
very latest, is about to introduce a price
Agora Energiewende (2019) European Energy
Transition 2030: The Big Picture
“Now it's perfectly clear.
.
all sectors are well advised
on carbon to clean up transport and
Agora Energiewende (2014) The German Energie-
heating, and has started to devise a
wende and its Climate Paradox
to prepare in time for the
strategy to wean industry off fossil fu-
els. But a slow-down in the renewables Fraunhofer ISE (2020) Energy Charts
roll-out and recurring squabbles over Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) (2019)
policy suggest it will be a bumpy ride to
turn Germany’s climate ambition into
Climate Action in Figures
Germanwatch / Climate Action Network (2019)
post-fossil age.”
practice over the long run. The Climate Change Performance Index 2020
Svenja Sc hulze,
Environ ment M inister (SPD party) 15Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
#Coal
Hard fought coal exit to set economy
on course for climate neutrality
G ermany, following the example
of other advanced economies
in Europe, has decided to end coal-
to exit coal, Germany faces the dual
challenge of simultaneously phas-
ing out nuclear power and providing
fired power production for good and an economic perspective for mining
gradually remodel its power sector to regions that still rely heavily on the
become fully decarbonised over the coal industry. A compromise found by
next decades. While a large majori- a government-appointed commission
ty of citizens welcomed the decision paved the way for an official phase-
© RWE AG.
16#Coal
“The planned phase-out roadmap will probably
be up for debate after the next election.”
German Institute for Economic Research – DIW
(2019) Whole-of-Government Strategies on Coal
Transition in Major Coal Using Countries
Contacts Patrick Graic hen, head of energy policy WWF Germany (2020) Just transition to climate
BDEW – German Association of Energy and Water think tank Agora Energiewende neutrality – doing right by the regions
International Energy Agency (2020) – Energy Policy
Industries, +49 30 300 199 1160, presse@bdew.de Review Germany 2020
Reading
DEBRIV – Federal German Association for
Brown Coal, +49 30 315 182 -22, uwe.maassen@ German government (2020) Draft Law for Reducing
braunkohle.de and Ending Coal-Fired Power Production (in German) On cleanenergywire.org
Institute for Applied Ecology (Öko-Institut) Commission on Growth, Structural Change and Dossiers:
+49 30 405085-334, m.schossig@oeko.de Employment (2019) Final report (in German) Germany’s coal phase-out
Ecologic et al. (2019) Phasing out coal in the Ger- Climate cabinet to put Germany back on track for
BMWi – Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs
man energy sector 2030 targets
and Energy, +49 30 18 615 6121 and -6131,
pressestelle@bmwi.bund.de Agora Energiewende (2019) The German Coal Com- Articles:
promise and its Significance for the Energy Industry
Barbara Praetorius, co-chair of coal exit German government adopts coal exit, fixes hard coal
commission, Aurora Energy Research (2019) Coal exit auctions: compensation
+49 30 5019-2532, Design options, opportunity costs and clearing "Historic compromise" or "pact of unreason"? –
barbara.praetorius@htw-berlin.de prices for Germany's hard coal phase-out media reactions to Germany's coal exit deal
Former coal commission members say German gov-
ernment breached landmark exit compromise
out plan that includes billions of euros the government’s planning, arguing
in support payments for coal regions that it postpones plant closures to the Factsheets:
and compensation for plant operators. latest possible date and lacks provi- Spelling out the coal exit – Germany's
phase-out plan
However, it is uncertain whether the sions for ensuring that decommis-
plan, which was announced in early sioned coal power capacity is substitut- German commission proposes coal exit by 2038
2020, will put the country’s coal debate ed with the renewable energy sources Germany's three lignite mining regions
to a rest. Many of the former commis- needed as the bedrock of a climate-
sion members are not satisfied with neutral economy.
17Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
#Energiewende #History
Energiewende – the first four decades
F or many observers, the energy
transition in Germany began with
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision
before, in the 1970s. A long process,
deeply rooted in German history and
society, led to policies that boosted
to phase out nuclear power, follow- renewable energy in Germany, which
ing the accident at the Fukushima are now at the heart of the move to a
nuclear plant in Japan in 2011. But climate-neutral economy. The Ener-
the societal project started decades giewende – a full-scale transformation
© Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen Baden-Württemberg.
18#Energiewende #History
Contacts On cleanenergywire.org
Institute for Applied Ecology (Öko-Institut) Dossier:
+49 30 405085-334, m.schossig@oeko.de The history of the Energiewende
“ The renewable energy act Heinrich Böll Foundation
+49 30 285 34 217, lorenz@boell.de
Factsheets:
Milestones of the German Energiewende
sparked a real grassroots Green Party
+49 30 284 42 130, presse@gruene.de
The history behind Germany’s nuclear phase-out
citizens’ movement. Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND)
+49 30 27586 425, sigrid.wolff@bund.net
Germans turned the Greenpeace Germany
+49 40 306 18 340, presse@greenpeace.de
Energiewende into their Nina Scheer, Social Democratic Party MP
+49 30 227 73538, nina.scheer@bundestag.de
own project.” Nina Scheer, Reading
Social Democratic Party MP energytransition.de Timeline Energiewende
Carbon Brief (2016) The history of the Energie-
wende
of society and the economy – arose out
of enduring grassroots movements,
evidence-based discourse, concern
about climate change, and key techno-
logical advances, as well as hands-on
experience garnered along the way in
Germany and elsewhere.
19Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
#Grid
Energiewende’s success hinges
on unblocking the power grid
G ermany must update its electricity
network to handle the fluctuat-
ing supply of power from decentral-
much power can be as big a problem
for the stability of the grid as too little.
Bottlenecks on the network currently
ised sources, while pursuing the cause stabilisation procedures costing
shift to a renewable energy system. The Germany more than a billion euros per
rapid expansion of wind power capac- year. Public protests against build-
ity in the north has supplied bounti- ing the power lines which will carry
ful low-cost electricity there. But too electricity to Germany’s industrial
©[Freja Eriksen] CLEW.
20#Grid
Contacts TransnetBW (grid operator) On cleanenergywire.org
+49 711 21858-3155 r.koenig@transnetbw.de
Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) Dossier:
+49 228 14 9921, pressestelle@bnetza.de Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) The energy transition and Germany’s power grid
+49 30 20308-1607, renner.thomas@dihk.de
Andreas Jahn, Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) Article:
+49 30 700 1435 421, ajahn@raponline.org German parliament passes law on faster grid expan-
Reading sion to ensure renewables growth
Oliver Brückl, OTH Regensburg
+49 941 943-9881, oliver.brueckl@oth-regensburg.de Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) Factsheets:
(2018) Annual Report 2018: 20 years of responsibil-
Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Set-up and challenges of Germany’s power grid
ity for networks
Cologne (EWI) Interconnectors & blockages – German grid at odds
+49 221 277 29-108, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy with EU power market
claudia.pichonnier@ewi.uni-koeln.de (BMWi) (2020) An electricity grid for the energy
Setting the power price: The merit order effect
transition
50Hertz Transmission (grid operator) Re-dispatch costs in the German power grid
+49 30 5150 -2878, volker.gustedt@50hertz.com German Institute for Economic Research (DIW)
Germany’s electricity grid stable amid energy
(2015) Electricity grids and climate targets:
TenneT (grid operator) transition
New approaches to grid planning
+49 921 50740 4045, ulrike.hoerchens@tennet.eu Power grid fees – unfair and opaque?
Pentalateral Energy Forum (2018) Second regional
Amprion (grid operator) How can Germany keep the lights on in a renewable
generation adequacy assessment report
+49 231 5849-13785, andreas.preuss@amprion.net energy future?
German TSOs Grid development plan – power Volatile but predictable: Forecasting renewable
power generation
south mean grid expansion is lagging Germany’s renewable generation peaks remain
behind schedule. In 2019, parlia- shrouded in data fog
ment passed an ‘acceleration law’ to
ensure that the necessary lines are
completed swiftly, and agreed with “Grid expansion remains
states that long stretches should be
placed underground to increase pub-
lic acceptance.
the Energiewende’s ma in ch allenge.”
Jochen Homann, head of Federal Network Agency (BNetzA)
21Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
#Transport
Car giant Germany struggles to spark
Energiewende in transport
A utomobile-proud Germany has
made little headway in extend-
ing the Energiewende to transport,
after several driving bans were imple-
mented to reduce local pollution in
the wake of the dieselgate scandal,
a crucial step in the country’s quest public and politics alike are acknowl-
for a low-carbon economy, resulting in edging that the shift to a sustain
stubbornly high sector emissions. But able transport system will involve
© [Wolfgang Klee] Deutsche Bahn AG.
22#Transport
Contacts Reading
“Decarbonisation isn’t Urs Maier, Agora Verkehrswende
+49 30 700 1435-302,
Agora Verkehrswende (2019) Implications of the
Paris Agreement for the German transport sector
happening anyw here in urs.maier@agora-verkehrswende.de
Andreas Knie, Berlin Social Science Center (WZB)
Agora Verkehrswende (2017) Transforming Trans-
port to Ensure Tomorrow’s Mobility – 12 Insights
the sector. Measures are +49 30 25491-588, andreas.knie@wzb.eu
Transport & Environment (2019) Less is more: how
expensive and interfere
Peter Kasten, Institute for Applied Ecology to go from new to sustainable mobility
(Öko-Institut)
+49 30 405085 349, p.kasten@oeko.de Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastruc-
with our daily life. Oliver Lah, Wuppertal Institute for Climate,
Environment and Energy
ture (BMVI) The future of mobility is electric
Arthur D Little (2018) The Future of Mobility
Thus, it just hasn’t been +49 30 2887458-16, oliver.lah@wupperinst.org
Werner Reh, Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND)
McKinsey (2016) Urban Mobility 2030: Berlin
pushed by either +49 176 45719292, w.reh@bund.net
On cleanenergywire.org
politicians or industry.”
Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infra
structure (BMVI), +49 30 183 00-7200, Dossiers:
neuigkeitenzimmer@bmvi.bund.de The energy transition and Germany’s transport sector
Peter Kasten, Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH)
+49 30 2400867-20, presse@duh.de
How Germany is greening its growing freight sector
to meet climate targets
Institute for Applied Ecology Article:
Renewable fuels will not solve aviation's climate
dilemma – industry experts
much more than replacing conven tative discussions about phasing out
Factsheets:
tional cars with electric models. In conventional cars are gaining ground.
Rail cargo emissions in Germany
a slow rethink of decades’ worth of Policymakers have also started to make
"Dieselgate" – a timeline of Germany's car emissions
car-centred policy, there is a new proposals on how aviation and ship fraud scandal
emphasis on sharing concepts, public ping could eventually become more
transport, cycling and walking, as ten climate-friendly.
23Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
#Cars
BMW, Daimler, and VW vow to fight
in green transport revolution
I n Germany, the birthplace of the
automobile, three iconic carmakers –
BMW, Daimler, and Volkswagen – are
Tarnished by the dieselgate scandal and
facing new and powerful competitors
in Google, Tesla, Apple, and Uber, the
facing the greatest challenge in their future of Germany’s horsepower-proud
history: the mobility revolution that carmakers is more uncertain than ever,
is turning the transport system green. especially in this age of decarbonisa-
© BMW Group.
24#Cars
Contacts Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) Alix Partners (2019) Global Automotive Outlook
+49 461 316-1293, pressestelle@kba.de
Kerstin Meyer, Agora Verkehrswende McKinsey&Company (2019) Mastering new mobility
+49 30 700 1435-303, German Association of the Automotive
Industry (VDA) Roland Berger (2020) The car will become a com-
kerstin.meyer@agora-verkehrswende.de
+49 30 897842-124, nikolaus.doll@vda.de puter on wheels
Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, Center Automotive
Henning Kagermann, National Platform for
Research, University of Duisburg-Essen
Electric Mobility On cleanenergywire.org
+49 203 379-1111,
+49 30 2063096-86, huss@acatech.de
ferdinand.dudenhoeffer@uni-due.de Dossier:
BMW Group
Stefan Bratzel, Center of Automotive BMW, Daimler and VW vow to fight in green trans-
+49 89 382-72652, wieland.bruch@bmw.de
Management (CAM), University of Applied Scienc- port revolution
es Bergisch Gladbach, +49 22 02 2 85 77-0, Daimler
+49 151 586 282 85, Articles:
stefan.bratzel@auto-institut.de
madeleine.herdlitschka@daimler.com Anxious carmakers forced to tread 'arduous' path to
Peter Mock, The International Council on Clean e-mobility in 2020
Transportation (ICCT) Volkswagen
+49 5361 9-77639, tim.fronzek@volkswagen.de Carmakers highlight climate ambitions at auto show
+49 30 847 129-102, peter@theicct.org in response to protest wave
Nicolai Müller, McKinsey&Company Factsheets:
Reading
+49 211 136-4516,
martin_hattrup-silberberg@mckinsey.com Reluctant Daimler shifts gear in race to sustainable
Transport & Environment (2019) How carmakers can
mobility
reach their 2021 CO2 targets
Wolfgang Bernhart, Roland Berger Early e-car starter BMW has lost ground in clean
+49 711 3275-7421, Institute for Applied Ecology (2018) Electro mobility race
wolfgang.bernhart@rolandberger.com mobility – Fact check
Huge EV bet could turn diesel pariah VW into
"game-changing" pioneer
tion, self-driving vehicles, and carshar- VW, all three firms have now launched "Dieselgate" – a timeline of Germany's car emissions
ing. The carmakers have lobbied hard – ambitious plans to expand their e-mo- fraud scandal
and with some success – against stricter bility offerings, and experts say it is far
European emissions limits, and have too early to write off these automotive
fallen behind in the global clean mo- powerhouses in the global race to the
bility competition. But spearheaded by future of mobility.
25Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
#Renewables #Wind #Solar #Bioenergy
Renewables growth way ahead of schedule
but slump in wind power spells trouble
T he share of wind power, solar power
and other renewable energy sources
has been growing much quicker than
risen from a niche technology to be-
come the dominant player in the power
mix. On some days, they already cover
planned in Germany and stood at over about three quarters of the electricity
40 percent of gross power production demand of Europe’s largest economy.
in 2019. Since the launch of support The country’s solar power industry had
payments in the country’s Renewable to cope with fierce price competition
Energy Act in 2000, renewables have from Asia and only regained its busi-
© RWE AG.
26#Renewables #Wind #Solar #Bioenergy
“Policymakers need to support the energy industry to make sure
that the success we've had so far is not short-lived (...) Reading
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Otherwise the goal of reaching a share of 65 percent renewables (BMWi) (2019) Renewable Energy Sources in Fig-
ures: National and International Development, 2018
in power consumption by 2030 cannot be achieved.” International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA)
(2019) Renewable Energy Auctions – Status and
Kerstin Andreae, head of the German Association of Energy and Water Industries Trends Beyond Price
Contacts
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE)
German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and (2018) Recent Facts about Photovoltaics in Germany
+49 30 275 8170 16, presse@bee-ev.de Energy (BMWi), +49 30 18615 6133,
German Wind Energy Association (BWE)
German Wind Energy Association (BWE) philipp.jornitz@bmwi.bund.de
Year Book Wind Power 2018
+49 30 212341-210, presse@wind-energie.de Renewable Energy Research Association
+49 30 288 7565-72, fvee@helmholtz-berlin.de Frankfurt School of Finance / UN Environment
Federal Association for Bioenergy Programme (2019) Global Trends in Renewable
+49 228 81 002 58, info@bioenergie.de Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Energy Investment 2019
German Solar Industry Association (BSW) Research (ISI), +49 721 6809-100,
+49 30 29 777 88-30, francke@bsw-solar.de anne-catherine.jung@isi.fraunhofer.de
Citizens’ Energy Alliance (BBEn), +49 30 30 88 17 89, On cleanenergywire.org
Volker Quaschning, University of Applied
Sciences Berlin, +49 30 5019-3656, presse@buendnis-buergerenergie.de Dossiers:
volker.quaschning@htw-berlin.de Bioenergy – the troubled pillar of the Energiewende
Onshore wind power in Germany
ness confidence in the past two years. aims to bring the share of renewables Offshore wind power in Germany
Meanwhile, Germany’s most impor- in power consumption to 65 percent by Solar power in Germany
tant renewable power source - onshore 2030, but renewable energy companies, Factsheets:
wind - faces a severe slump in expan- as well as other industry actors and Solar power in Germany
sion after years of remarkable growth environmental groups in the country, Bioenergy in Germany
due to licensing hurdles and quarrels fear that this goal might become hard
Onshore wind power in Germany
over minimum distances for turbines to attain if the nosedive of wind power
Offshore wind power in Germany
near residential areas. The government is not stopped soon.
27Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
#Cost & Prices #EEG/Law
National carbon price heralds reshuffling
of entire energy pricing system
S ince 1990, Germany has made visible
progress in bringing down greenhouse
gas emissions in the power sector. How-
cision to introduce a price on CO2 emis-
sions accruing in sectors that are not
yet subject to the European Union’s
ever, its achievements in other major emissions trading system (ETS), namely
sectors of the economy have been much transport and heating. The carbon price
more modest. That's why in 2019 the will take effect from 2021, and gradually
government took the momentous de- increase the costs of using oil, gas or
© [Bergmann] Bundesregierung.
28#Cost & Prices #EEG/Law
“We currently fund the transformation
Contacts
Matthias Kalkuhl, Mercator Research Institute on
Reading
Federal Government of Germany (2019) Climate
of our energy supply only with
Global Commons and Climate Change,
+49 30 33 85 537 -243, kalkuhl@mcc-berlin.net
Action Programme 2030 of the German government
to implement the Climate Action Plan 2050
a surcharge on the power price.
Christoph M. Schmidt, RWI – Leibniz Institute
(in German)
This cannot go on. Our target has
to be to make fossil energy sources
for Economics, International Emissions Trading Association (2019)
+49 201 8149 -227, praesident@rwi-essen.de The economic potential of article 6 of the Paris
Agreement and implementation challenges
Linus Herzig, Germanwatch,
pay for it much more in all sectors.
+49 30 28 88 356 -93, herzig@germanwatch.org Ottmar Edenhfoer et al. (2018) A framework for as-
sessing the performance of cap-and-trade systems: ”
Jobst-Hinrich Wiskow, Federation of German
Industries – BDI,
Insights from the European Union emissions trading
system
Svenja Schulze, Environ ment Minister
+49 30 20 281-565, j.wiskow@bdi.eu
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research – PIK
(SPD party)
Clearingstelle EEG / KWKG, (2019) Options for a carbon pricing reform
+49 30 206 14 16 -0,
post@clearingstelle-eeg-kwkg.de Federal Environment Agency – UBA
On cleanenergywire.org
Greenhouse-Gas-Neutrality in Germany until 2050
Dossiers:
Climate cabinet to put Germany back on track for
2030 targets
The reform of the Renewable Energy Act
Factsheets:
coal for driving cars and heating homes. turing of energy pricing systems, where- Germany's carbon pricing system for transport and
While critics have said the starting price by electricity becomes cheaper. Funding buildings
of 25 euros per tonne of CO2 is too low to the expansion of renewables, currently Germany ponders how to finance renewables
trigger meaningful effects, the govern- done with auctioned feed-in tariffs expansion in the future
ment argues a slow start helps people under the German Renewable Energy Act 20 years on – German renewables pioneers face end
adapt to higher prices and, moreover, (EEG), could ultimately be aided by the of guaranteed payment
will also be followed by a deeper restruc- proceeds from the carbon price. Defining features of the Renewable Energy Act (EEG)
29Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
#Nuclear phase-out
Managing the nuclear legacy –
a project into the next century
T he last nuclear power plant in Ger
many will go offline at the end of
2022, marking the end of a decades-long
until 2011, when the Fukushima nuclear
disaster in Japan led Chancellor Ange
la Merkel’s government to implement
dispute over the use of the technolo a phase-out plan already agreed on
gy that offers emissions-free power a decade earlier by the Social Demo
production but comes with unresolved cratic-Green government and initially
challenges regarding waste storage and postponed by Merkel. While some propo
safety. The fight against nuclear power nents of nuclear power today endorse it
was one of the triggers of Germany’s as an effective tool for climate action,
environmental movement in the 1970s, the broader society still widely rejects
and arguments over its use continued ‘Atomkraft’ and no former nuclear plant
© [Daniel Meier-Gerber] EnBW.
30#Nuclear phase-out
Contacts Forschungszentrum Jülich BMWi / Warth & Klein Grant Thornton (2015) Evalua-
+49 2461 61-2388, a.stettien@fz-juelich.de tion of nuclear clean-up provisions (in German)
Wolfgang Irrek, Ruhr West University of Ap-
plied Sciences German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and
+49 208 88254-838, wolfgang.irrek@hs-ruhrwest.de +49 30 89789-152, pjasper@diw.de Energy (2007) Comparison of Different Decommis-
sioning Fund Methodologies for Nuclear Installations
Energiewerke Nord GmbH (EWN)
+49 38354 4-8030, marlies.philipp@ewn-gmbh.de Reading
On cleanenergywire.org
Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) Heinrich Böll Stiftung (2019) The world nuclear waste
+49 30 18 333-11 30, presse@bfs.de report 2019 – Focus Europe Dossier:
German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) The challenges of Germany’s nuclear phase-out
Becker Büttner Held energy law firm (BBH)
+49 30 611 28 40-179, ines.zenke@bbh-online.de (2019) High-priced and dangerous: Nuclear power is Articles:
not an option for the climate-friendly energy mix
Green Budget Germany (FÖS) Germany's env min and plant operators dismiss call
+49 30 7623991-41, andrea.woerle@foes.de Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature for nuclear lifetime extensions
Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) (2020) German utilities buy out of nuclear waste liability
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature
Nuclear Safety: An information portal of the Federal for 23.6 bln euros
Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)
government and the Länder
+49 30 18 305-2010, presse@bmu.bund.de Germany’s constitutional court backs speedy
Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) Online nuclear exit
information on nuclear safety and nuclear waste
management Factsheets:
operator in Germany has any intention The history behind Germany’s nuclear phase-out
to seek a resumption, not least due to Brunnengräber et. al. (2015) Nuclear Waste Govern-
ance – An International Comparison What to do with the nuclear waste
the technology’s high generation costs.
Nuclear clean-up costs
As of 2019, nuclear plants still contrib- BBH (2014) Financial provisions in the nuclear sec-
tor – Possible risks of the status quo and options for Securing utility payments for the nuclear clean-up
uted over 12 percent to Germany’s power
reform (in German) Legal disputes over the nuclear phase-out
mix, but the government says decom-
missioning the remaining facilities will
not threaten power supply as nuclear “Nuclear energy is economically dead (...) why should I build
capacity will be replaced by renewables,
gas plants, and power imports from
nuclear power stations, which carry an inherent risk, if I can
neighbour countries.
already harvest the sun's energy for less than half the price today ? ”
Rolf Martin Schmitz, CEO of energy company RWE 31Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
#Industry #Jobs
German industry embraces
transformation challenge
A fter balking at the Energiewende for
many years, German industry is now
fervently embracing the energy transi-
largest economy – both among compa-
nies and regions. But businesses increas-
ingly see new opportunities and profits in
tion. There is no doubt that the efforts to the global move to a low-carbon future.
curb climate change through a far-reach- Many say it is now time for Germa-
ing shift to clean energy will produce ny to ensure it remains a global eco-
winners and losers in the world’s fourth nomic powerhouse – not by shunning
© Salzgitter AG.
32#Industry #Jobs
Contacts German Industry Initiative for Energy On cleanenergywire.org
Efficiency (DENEFF)
Ulrike Lehr, Institute of Economic Structures +49 30 364 097-01, christian.noll@deneff.org Dossiers:
Research (GWS) The energy transition’s effect on the economy
+49 541 40933-280, lehr@gws-os.com Kirsten Best-Werbunat, McKinsey & Company
+49 211 136-4688, kirsten_best@mckinsey.com Industry bets on gas as last trump card in
German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) Energiewende
+49 30 89789-152, pjasper@diw.de Frank Peter, Agora Energiewende
+49 30 700 1435-123, Articles:
Sebastian Bolay, Chambers of Commerce and frank.peter@agora-energiewende.de German industry needs policy trigger for deep
Industry (DIHK) emission cuts
+49 30 20308-2202, bolay.sebastian@dihk.de Achim Wambach, President of the Mannheim Cen-
tre for European Economic Research (ZEW) Can Salzgitter cut Germany's CO2 emissions with
Federation of German Industries (BDI) +49 621 1235-100, achim.wambach@zew.de low-carbon steel project?
+49 30 2028 1565, j.wiskow@bdi.eu
Germany must beat Asia in hydrogen technology
Institute for the Study of Labour (IZA) Reading race – government
+49 228 3894 223, fallak@iza.org Energy-intensive industry must jump-start low-CO2
Federation of German Industries BDI (2018) Cli-
Institute for Employment Research (IAB) mate paths for Germany technologies to reach climate targets – study
+49 911 179-1946, wolfgang.braun@iab.de
German Energy Agency (2018) Integrated Energy Factsheets:
Institute for Economic Research (Ifo) Transition Industry power prices in Germany: Extremely
+49 89 9224-1218, schultz@ifo.de high – and low
Energy Systems of the Future (2018) Coupling the
Institute for Futures Studies and Technology As- different energy sectors – options for the next phase What business thinks of the energy transition
sessment (IZT) +49 30 80 30 88-45, b.debus@izt.de of the energy transition Siemens: a case study in Energiewende industry
upheaval
Agora Energiewende (2019) Climate-Neutral
Industry Where the Energiewende creates jobs
the Energiewende, but by harnessing its
BMWi (2019) Macroeconomic effects and distribu- How much does Germany’s energy transition cost?
innovative momentum. This includes
tional issues of the energy transition
“The Energiewende will turn
industries hardly involved yet, such as
steelmaking, chemicals, and cement, Studies by the BMWi (2020) on the energy tran-
the German economy inside out.”
which have all tabled proposals as to sition and its impact on investment, growth and jobs
how they could become climate neutral, United Nations Environment Programme (2019)
given the right government support. Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2019
Achim Wambach, President of the Centre
for European Economic Research (ZEW) 33Clean Energy Wire | CLEW 2020
#Start-ups #Utilities
Energiewende start ups –
cutting emissions as a business model
P olicy has a crucial role to play in
the shift to a low-carbon future,
but ultimately it is businesses that will
sectors from renewables to heating,
and industry to mobility. Some have
referred to Germany’s lively start-up
make the energy transition happen. scene as a ‘Green Energy Valley’. In
In Energiewende home country Germa- sectors such as storage and hydrogen,
ny, many start-ups take advantage of young German companies are among
the transformation by bringing novel the world’s leaders, and could be key
business ideas to market, and taking to cleaning up polluting industries.
market shares from incumbents in The country's embattled utilities, who
© [renedeutscher.de] Sunfire GmbH, Dresden.
34#Start-ups #Utilities
Contacts E.ON McKinsey (2018) How utilities can keep the lights on
+49 201 184 -42256, markus.nitschke@eon.com
Klaus Fichter, Borderstep Institute Bain & Company (2018) Digital Strategy for Utilities
+49 30 306 45 100 -0, fichter@borderstep.de Vattenfall
+49 30 8182 -2320, stefan.mueller@vattenfall.de
Pia Dorfinger, German Energy Agency (dena)
On cleanenergywire.org
+49 30 66 777-737, dorfinger@dena.de EnBW
+49 721 63 -14320, je.schreiber@enbw.com Dossiers:
German Startups Association
+49 30 609 8959 -101, innogy Germany's Energiewende start-ups – cutting emis-
paul.wolter@deutschestartups.org +49 201 12 -15250, sions as a business model
alexander.stechert-mayerhoefer@innogy.com Battered utilities take on start-ups in innovation race
Thorsten Lenck, Agora Energiewende
+49 30 700 1435 -134, Uniper Digitalisation ignites new phase in energy transition
thorsten.lenck@agora-energiewende.de +49 211 4579 -3570, leif.erichsen@uniper.energy Articles:
German Association of Energy and Water Indus- Gerard Reid, Alexa Capital Energy transition start-ups shake up the busi-
tries (BDEW) +44 20 3011 5566, info@alexa-capital.com ness world
+49 30 300 199 -1160, presse@bdew.de Dedicated engineers have made Germany a "Green
RWE AG Energy Valley" – start-up expert
+49 201 1222088, stephanie.schunck@rwe.com Reading
Factsheets:
Borderstep Institute (2019) Green Startup Moni- 'Green Energy Valley' – Germany's green start-up
tor 2018 scene in numbers
were far too slow to recognise the EY (2020) How net-zero emissions present the pow- Germany’s largest utilities at a glance
renewables revolution, now bet on er sector with an opportunity
start-up innovation to cut emissions. EY (2019) Start-up-Barometer Germany
In the innovation race against agile
Cleantech Group (2020) Global Cleantech 100 List
new players, the overhaul of the for-
mer monopolies is far from over – as IEEFA (2017) Global Electricity Utilities in
evidenced by the landmark asset Transition
swap of major energy companies RWE Deloitte (2018) Power Market Study 2030 – A new
and E.ON. outlook for the energy industry
35You can also read
