Critics argue that Germany's energy transition is too risky. But in Berlin, Economic Affairs Minister Sigmar Gabriel, and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier promised that renewables will foster a greener lifestyle, and create prosperity. EurActiv Germany reports.
Climate protection, security of supply and economic growth all fit together, said Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday (26 March).
The Social Democrat made the opening statement at an international conference on climate change in Berlin.
The goal of the meeting was to make the concept of a renewable energy supply palatable for as many countries as possible from all over the world - and not only with arguments promoting climate protection.
"Not only should more people live more safely and cleanly, but also more prosperously", Sigmar Gabriel pointed out, emphasising the main goal of the Energiewende.
Research and innovation play an important role in this, he said, for German companies domestically and those who develop the energy market abroad for innovative, efficient and climate-friendly products.
MANY INSECURITIES
Germany is giving up nuclear energy; in 2022 the last atomic power plant will leave the grid. But several questions remain: Will renewables be enough to cover Germany's remaining energy needs? Is energy security guaranteed? Is there a threat of rising prices?
Because of these questions, many countries remain sceptical of the concept of renewable energy sources. So far, only a few have pushed the transition as far as Germany, which currently boasts a 27% share of renewable energy.
German representatives at the conference did their best to calm concerns. Abandoning nuclear energy is the only way, Gabriel emphasised, from an economic perspective.
In this day and age, the Economic Affairs Minister said, nuclear energy is the most costly and nonsensical form of power generation. While nuclear energy employed around 30,000 people at its peak, renewables have already created 300,000 jobs to date, he indicated.
GERMANY AS A ROLE MODEL
"Only renewables are able to shift our energy supply to one without CO2, while guaranteeing security of supply and strengthening local added value," said Fritz Brickwedde, president of the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE).
Germany has already served as a role model, in that the Energiewende is an innovative motor for industry and the mid-sized sector.
Brickwedde's words are not only backed up by the number of workers in the sector, but also the amount of investment in renewable energy sources. The latter increased from almost EUR5 billion in 2000 to EUR19 billion in 2014.
In addition, the number of patents registered in this sector increased five-fold between 2005 and 2013 to 2,000 new patents.
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE IS POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE
Steinmeier also emphasised that sustainable energy supply is not only "the ideal solution to less emissions". They also mean ending dependence on imports and thereby removing the option of using energy to exert political pressure.
Because, Steinmeier pointed out, "every country can produce renewables on its own".
Germany still spends large sums on importing crude oil, natural gas and hard coal. In 2012, import costs ran as high as EUR90 billion.
To reduce this dependence and still reach its self-defined climate targets, Germany seems determined to continue pushing the Energiewende. But nine months before the climate conference in Paris, pressure on Berlin is growing. By 2020, emissions are planned to be reduced 40% compared to 1990 levels.
