24 E. GREALIS ET AL.
energy poLiCy in germany
Energy policy at the federal level in Germany is dominated by
supply-side and infrastructural legislative measures, largely influenced by
both its implementation obligations under EU directives 2 and national
policy documents. Technical regulations derive primarily from the
Energy Industry Act governing grid network charges, transmission,
reserve, access and default supply, while regulations governing the transition to less carbon-intensive energy supply stem primarily from the
Renewable Energy Sources Act (BMJV 2018). The latter broadly promotes the advancement of technological and market solutions that will
enable Germany to reach a target of 80% of power generation from
renewable resources by 2050.
Recently, Germany has made significant progress on the penetration of renewables, particularly in the electricity sector, with renewables
accounting for 38% of net public power supply in 2017 (Fraunhofer
Institute 2018). However, the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power
plant in 2011, and subsequent political developments in Germany
(particularly in the state of Baden-Württemberg 3 ), have had a significant impact on Germany’s nuclear energy policy, with the Federal government removing nuclear power as a defined ‘bridging technology’
towards achieving the Energiewende and legislating for a decommissioning timeline for most nuclear power plants by 2022 (BMJV 2018). As
a result, increased levels of renewables may now result in a corresponding increase in the use of fossil fuels for electricity production (Renn
and Marshall 2016). Consequently, attention among Energiewende campaigners and advocates has shifted towards decommissioning coal-related
technology and infrastructure, as exemplified by the Ende Gelände movement that seeks to stop the use of coal.
In addition to the technical barriers to renewable expansion, there is
also mounting public resistance to Energiewende projects, most notably in relation to wind farm developments and the construction and
2 Flowing from both the EU Climate and Energy Package (governing the 20/20/20 targets) and the European Climate and Energy Framework (outlining targets for 2030) policy
frameworks.
3 In 2011 the Green Party won the State elections in Baden-Württemberg, partly because
of its ability to capitalise on the Fukushima incident to promote proposals for a rapid
‘energy turn’ towards renewables.
energy poLiCy in germany
Energy policy at the federal level in Germany is dominated by
supply-side and infrastructural legislative measures, largely influenced by
both its implementation obligations under EU directives 2 and national
policy documents. Technical regulations derive primarily from the
Energy Industry Act governing grid network charges, transmission,
reserve, access and default supply, while regulations governing the transition to less carbon-intensive energy supply stem primarily from the
Renewable Energy Sources Act (BMJV 2018). The latter broadly promotes the advancement of technological and market solutions that will
enable Germany to reach a target of 80% of power generation from
renewable resources by 2050.
Recently, Germany has made significant progress on the penetration of renewables, particularly in the electricity sector, with renewables
accounting for 38% of net public power supply in 2017 (Fraunhofer
Institute 2018). However, the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power
plant in 2011, and subsequent political developments in Germany
(particularly in the state of Baden-Württemberg 3 ), have had a significant impact on Germany’s nuclear energy policy, with the Federal government removing nuclear power as a defined ‘bridging technology’
towards achieving the Energiewende and legislating for a decommissioning timeline for most nuclear power plants by 2022 (BMJV 2018). As
a result, increased levels of renewables may now result in a corresponding increase in the use of fossil fuels for electricity production (Renn
and Marshall 2016). Consequently, attention among Energiewende campaigners and advocates has shifted towards decommissioning coal-related
technology and infrastructure, as exemplified by the Ende Gelände movement that seeks to stop the use of coal.
In addition to the technical barriers to renewable expansion, there is
also mounting public resistance to Energiewende projects, most notably in relation to wind farm developments and the construction and
2 Flowing from both the EU Climate and Energy Package (governing the 20/20/20 targets) and the European Climate and Energy Framework (outlining targets for 2030) policy
frameworks.
3 In 2011 the Green Party won the State elections in Baden-Württemberg, partly because
of its ability to capitalise on the Fukushima incident to promote proposals for a rapid
‘energy turn’ towards renewables.