Europe comparison: Germany lets itself be left behind in the energy transition

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Power poles and solar trees: Easier market access in other states

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In view of climate change, countries all over Europe are trying to convert their electricity market away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energies.

Although Germany wants to be a pioneer, it is not progressing as quickly as other countries.

This is the result of a study by the British Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) together with the energy management company Eaton.

The experts evaluated and compared the framework conditions for the energy transition in 13 European countries.

According to this, Germany can maintain its rating from the previous year, but slips to last place.

Because other countries have improved more since the survey in 2021.

With the so-called Energy Transition Readiness Index (ETRI), the countries are evaluated according to these criteria:

• social support for the energy transition

• the ability to use new technologies and business models

• flexibility of the market

On a scale of one to five, Germany achieves a value of 3 – as do Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and Great Britain.

Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden reach level 4, only Finland reaches the highest level 5.

All countries have ambitious emission reduction targets.

But the higher-rated countries are said to have flexible markets "that better ensure fair, transparent and easy access," it said.

On the other hand, there are obstacles to investment in countries with lower ratings.

Overall, the study sees a strong consensus for the energy transition in Germany, but the implementation of political and regulatory changes is slow.

One of the reasons is that decision-making is subject to a wide range of local political interests.

According to the experts, Germany needs more resources to increase the flexibility of the electricity market and thus achieve the goals of the energy transition.

Germany in the lead when it comes to green electricity

Germany is the largest electricity market among the countries examined.

Countries like Norway or Switzerland therefore cover their needs with renewable energies better in percentage terms, although Germany produces most of the electricity from renewable energies, the experts write.

In 2021, the share of German electricity consumption from renewable energies was 41 percent.

In the first half of 2022, it rose to 49 percent.

According to the will of the federal government, the proportion of electricity generated from renewable energies in Germany should reach at least 80 percent by 2030.

sol/dpa