Germany and the Future of Clean Energy

          The Center for American Progress and the Heinrich Boell Foundation welcomed Franz Untersteller, minister for the environment, climate, and energy of the German state of Baden-Württemberg, on Monday, October 3 for a roundtable discussion on Germany’s simultaneous transition away from carbon and nuclear-based energies. As a German economic powerhouse, Baden- Württemberg will be a pivotal player in the country’s implementation of clean energy.

Untersteller began the discussion by identifying Germany’s main energy goals: the complete phase out of nuclear power plants by 2023; an increase in the share of renewable fuels in use; the addition of flexible gas power to their energy spectrum; and the adaptation of the current infrastructure to accommodate changes in energy sources. Untersteller emphasized that Germany’s decision to end its nuclear program does not suggest that it is abandoning its prior commitment to clean energy. Rather, Germany is focusing on other forms of clean energy, such as wind, hydro power, photovoltaic cells, and biomass—so long as it does not interfere with food production—as well as trying to improve efficiency. Untersteller highlighted the necessity of such a combination of tactics in order for Germany to reach its energy targets, with the ambitious goal of acquiring 80% percent of its power from non-carbon sources by 2050.

            Untersteller spoke to the anxieties associated with attempting such a dramatic shift, noting that a significant number of jobs and companies have already been created, contributing to Germany’s economy. In addition, the country’s eight oldest nuclear power plants have been shut down successfully, quelling fears of price shocks and destabilization. So far, Germany has provided as a model of success in the energy revolution. In 2000, Germany passed the Renewable Energy Act, which has served as a central political mechanism in the transition from fossil-based fuels to clean energy. This Act has influenced other countries in their parallel attempts to build their stocks of clean energy, partly because of the convergence of strategy drivers: energy independence, global climate change, and economic opportunity.

            Untersteller sees Germany’s planned nuclear and fossil-fuel phase-out as an opportunity to be on the forefront of the clean energy movement. He emphasized that the future of energy lies in the implementation of a second stage of transition in which the energy system experiences fundamental changes, with renewable energy dominating the energy sector, rather than merely being integrated. In addition, Germany’s leadership in the clean energy revolution introduces impetus for the United States to increase its commitment to the adaptation of clean energy.

Colleen Quinn