The German “Energiewende”—An Introduction

The German government’s multi-decade effort to transition to a low-carbon, renewables-based energy economy is now commonly known as “energiewende” (“energy transition”). The transition has four major objectives: increasing the share of renewables to at least 80% (in electricity) and 60% for total fi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Economics of energy & environmental policy 2014-09, Vol.3 (2), p.1-12
Main Author: VON HIRSCHHAUSEN, CHRISTIAN
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative energy sources
Capital costs
Coal
Control
Economic aspects
Economic costs
Electricity
Emissions (Pollution)
Energy
Energy policy
Environmental policy
Negative externalities
Nuclear power
Renewable energy
SYMPOSIUM ON THE GERMAN “ENERGIEWENDE”
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Summary:The German government’s multi-decade effort to transition to a low-carbon, renewables-based energy economy is now commonly known as “energiewende” (“energy transition”). The transition has four major objectives: increasing the share of renewables to at least 80% (in electricity) and 60% for total final energy consumption, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% (basis: 1990), phasing out nuclear energy by 2022, and increasing energy efficiency significantly; the government also encourages broad public participation in energy policy discussions and profit sharing. This paper reviews the major events leading to the decision to go “energiewende” in 2010/11 and the ensuing developments in the electricity sector. We survey the rapidly growing body of literature on the German energiewende and place the other core papers of this Special Section of EEEP in perspective.
ISSN:2160-5882
2160-5890
DOI:10.5547/2160-5890.3.2.chir