Successful expansion of renewable energies in Germany - how can the pace be increased?
Successful expansion of renewable energies in Germany - how can the pace be increased?
In the past year, half of the German electricity requirements were covered by renewable energies, which marked a successful start of the energy transition. However, it is necessary to expand the renewable energies faster to reach the German climate goals. This will be in the new episode of the podcast "Please turn!" of Moritz Vogel's eco-institute.
According to the Renewable Energy Sources Act, specific expansion goals are laid down. By 2030, 115 gigawatt winds are said to be available on land, twice as much as at the moment, and the photovoltaic systems are even to be expanded to 215 gigawatts, which corresponds to a triplication compared to today's stand. While the goals for the expansion of solar energy were achieved in 2023, the goals for the expansion of wind energy were not achieved. Therefore, it is all the more important to advance the expansion this year.
However, there are four major challenges to cope with the implementation of the goals: approval processes, space availability, acceptance and availability of systems. There is currently a large traffic jam of applications from the authorities that cannot be processed quickly enough due to lack of personnel. In addition, intensive exams are required to make complaint -proof decisions. In order to enable the expansion, the different rules of the federal states should also be adapted to offer people financial incentives to invest in renewable energies.Acceptance in public is also of great importance. A result -open planning that takes into account regional circumstances is required. Ideally, the systems should be built on areas that are not very important in the municipality. It should also be possible to build photovoltaic systems where they are needed, for example as hail protection via apple trees.
The expansion of renewable energies not only offers ecological advantages, but also economic opportunities for municipalities that are financially disadvantaged. The energy transition can also serve as a redistribution instrument.
In order to inform the public about the expansion of renewable energies, there is the podcast "Please turn!" of the eco-institute. In this podcast, experts from the institute talk about upcoming sustainability transformations with politically and ecologically interested people.
episode 2 of the fourth season of the podcast deals with the topic "More speed in the energy transition?" and was published on March 14, 2024. The podcast can be heard on all common podcast portals such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Further information and episodes of the podcast are available on the Öko-Institut website.
As the contact person of the eco-institute, Moritz Vogel, senior researcher in the area of energy & climate protection, is available. The organic institute is one of the leading independent research and advisory institutes for a sustainable future in Europe. It was founded in 1977 and has locations in Freiburg, Darmstadt and Berlin. Further information is available on the institute's website.
Here is a table with relevant information on the expansion of renewable energies:
| Year | Share of renewable energies in German electricity requirements |
| —— | ———————————————— |
| 2023 | 50% |
| 2030 | Goal: 100% |
It is important to advance the expansion of renewable energies in order to achieve the climate goals and to ensure a sustainable future for Germany. The challenges for approval processes, space availability, acceptance and availability of systems must be overcome in order to successfully implement the energy transition. The public must be informed about the benefits and opportunities of renewable energies in order to achieve a high level of acceptance. The podcast "Please turn!" The eco-institute offers a platform for experts to talk about upcoming sustainability transformations. It is essential that municipalities receive financial incentives to invest in renewable energies and thus benefit from the proceeds.
The energy transition is a complex task that requires broad participation and solutions at different levels. With the consistent expansion of renewable energies, Germany can take a pioneering role in climate protection and secure a sustainable future for future generations.
Source: Öko-Institut e.V./OTS