Gov advisors say Energiewende will only thrive in European framework
The German government鈥檚 advisors agree that a European dimension is indispensable for the country鈥檚 energy transition strategy, and it must be heeded in order to successfully manage the shift from a fossil-fuel based to a renewables-based energy system. 鈥淕ermany鈥檚 Energiewende is embedded in a European Energiewende and its ambitious goals for 2030 and beyond,鈥� the expert commission tasked with monitoring the energy transition鈥檚 progress says in its opinion on the federal economy ministry鈥檚 latest Energiewende Monitoring Report [Read an analysis of the report's other findings here].
In its non-binding advisory opinion on the ministry鈥檚 , which was published on 27 June, the group argues that the upcoming EU legislative package on integrating national energy systems across borders and improving international political and academic cooperation on issues related to the energy transition are key to achieving meaningful emissions reduction, while maintaining economic prosperity and a secure power supply. The Energiewende experts particularly endorse the European Commission鈥檚 proposal to establish a regular energy transition monitoring system across Europe, in which the participating countries can give detailed accounts of their emissions reduction ambitions and outline the steps they plan to take.
鈥淲e face quite similar problems in many countries in the world. Exchanging our experiences in energy transformation in a uniform monitoring format could achieve a lot,鈥� the government advisors鈥� group leader, economist Andreas L枚schel, told the 威力彩玩法. L枚schel argued that an international approach to Energiewende monitoring practiced by the German government could help spread best Energiewende practices to other countries, and also help the German government learn from the growing number of examples as countries around the world set out to overhaul their energy systems.
European approach saves costs and increases supply security
The expert group says that European countries must define their related goals jointly and must coordinate their climate and energy policy moves to avoid duplication of work. 鈥淲e want to learn from one another 鈥� and not just sell the Energiewende as a 鈥榮uccess model made in Germany鈥� to other countries,鈥� the advisors say. The German government could greatly benefit from an independent international monitoring commission that would evaluate progress across Europe, especially since many countries fare much better than Germany in particular energy transition categories. 鈥淚t seems absolutely justified to systematically observe the energy and climate policies of other countries and to adopt elements if applicable,鈥� the government advisors say.
The group also criticises the negligence of the German government regarding the struggles other nations face in coping with the influx of excess German wind power in the transnational power grid. 鈥淭he renewables expansion in combination with the lack in grid expansion on Germany lead to a disintegration of the European domestic market,鈥� they warn.
Germany has increased the share of renewables in its energy mix to about a third over the past two decades by financially supporting investments in wind turbines, solar panels, and other forms of renewable energy generation through a surcharge customers pay with their power bills. While the carbon emission of Europe鈥檚 largest economy was on a steady decrease initially, it then remained practically unchanged for almost a decade, prompting criticism that the costly transition from fossil and nuclear power to more sustainable energy sources fails on its primary objective of reducing CO2 emissions. Among the greatest obstacles are Germany鈥檚 continuously high share of coal-fired power production and the transport sector, whose emissions have been on the increase and which is currently the subject of intense debate as the EU is about to introduce new emissions limits for the car industry, Germany鈥檚 biggest industrial sector.
International climate activists like former US Vice President Al Gore have praised Germany for its merits in making renewable energy sources competitive for the benefit of the whole world. But on the very first day of Germany鈥檚 newly installed coal exit commission, Gore warned that stagnating emissions levels could indicate that 鈥渘ow comes a time where Germany is at risk of being left behind.鈥�
The government advisors鈥� Energiewende Monitoring Report backs this assessment by saying that, apart from renewable energy generation, Germany will have to 鈥渕ake greater effort to comply with its binding national EU contributions to meeting the 2020 emissions reduction targets.鈥� While the EU as a whole has already met its 2020 target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent compared to 1990 levels, the German government has recently had to officially abandon its more ambitious national target of 40 percent, as time is running out close the current gap of more than 10 percentage points.
In the report, the government advisors also emphasise that supply security and price stability - the other key priorities for the energy transition besides emission reduction - can be much better guaranteed in a European context than in a predominantly national setting. 鈥淭he European power market is a reality and contributes to supply security,鈥� the advisors say. This is thanks to the fact that the German market is embedded in a European context through its neighbours as well as via Sweden and Norway.
As a result of this increasing interconnection, the balancing effects on intermittent renewable power production are much stronger in a large geographical area like Europe than in a single country.鈥� Doldrums and peak demand do not occur in all countries at once.鈥� Its reliable grid connection to its neighbours also enables Germany to reduce its installed generation capacity and curb the Energiewende鈥檚 total costs. The experts say that, alongside renewable energy integration, Germany should also pursue a more transparent and pan-European approach to its natural gas supply [See the 威力彩玩法 dossier on The role of gas in Germany's energy transition]. Germany currently pushes for completion of the contentious Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 despite objections from several of its EU neighbours.
