About: Energiewende

Germany’s new coal phase-out plan: Lots of money, little climate ambition

An agreement reached in the early hours of Thursday (16 January) between the federal government and representatives of the four German coal states won't bring the country much closer to reaching its climate goals, analysts said.

EU’s new list of energy projects includes 32 gas facilities

The EU says it wants to get out of fossil fuels and become climate neutral as soon as possible. But the European Commission's latest list of energy projects eligible for EU funding nevertheless includes 32 gas projects, including the construction of new LNG terminals, EURACTIV Germany reports.

Gas, a prominent guest at German energy transition event

As Germany is gradually phasing out nuclear and coal energy, Berlin is increasingly considering gas as key in bridging the gap between a fossil-fuels based and a low carbon economy.

Think tank calls for new EU administrative bodies to accelerate energy transition

The EU should establish two new administrative bodies to speed up energy transition, one in the Parliament and one in the Commission, influential Berlin-based think tank Agora Energiewende said on Thursday (7 March) while presenting its ten priority measures for the EU institutions.

German farmers protest against green energy grid expansion

Germany's parliament is looking into a law meant to speed up electric grid expansion and move forward the country's energy transition. But German farmers are not happy and have called for more compensation from the federal government. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Germany’s coal phase out plans must accelerate to meet Paris goals

Germany needs to phase out coal-fired power by 2030 in order to maximise the economic and social benefits of the zero-carbon transition, and deliver its commitment as part of the Paris Agreement, writes Nigel Topping.

German coal phase-out criticised but welcomed on whole

Green activists have criticised the German coal commission's goal of phasing out coal by 2038, saying it is too late. But environmentalists and industry representatives at least agree it could lead the way for other countries. EURACTIV Germany reports.

What’s in the German coal commission’s final report?

With negotiations having lasted eight months and the outcome already postponed once, the German Commission on Growth, Structural Change and Employment (the so-called “coal commission”), has presented its final report. What's in it? EURACTIV Germany reports.

Energy sector relieved after Germany appoints new state secretary

Germany's economy and energy minister Peter Altmaier has appointed municipal utility manager Andreas Feicht as the new state secretary for energy, putting an end to an embarrassing, nearly year-long void. Four key stakeholders have welcomed the appointment in comments made to EURACTIV.

‘Merkel deceived us on climate’, says Germany’s Energiewende godfather

Berlin lacks the political will to bring the energy transition forward, said Hans Josef Fell, the initiator of Germany's world-renowned 2000 renewable energy feed-in tariff legislation, in an interview with EURACTIV.com.

Juncker attends closure of Germany’s last black coal mine

Germany will close its last black coal mine on Friday (21 December), a milestone marking the end of a 200-year-old industry that once fuelled the country's economic growth but lost the battle against cheaper foreign competitors.

Germany launches coal commission in a bid to protect climate and jobs

After being postponed three times, Germany’s government has appointed the long-awaited commission which is to define a roadmap for the country’s coal phase-out. It will have a double mandate: to protect both the climate and jobs.

Energy transition goals lack ambition, local projects lead the way, study suggests

Energy transition in Europe is proceeding too slowly and Brussels is lacking ambition to fulfil the requirements of the Paris Agreement – those are the conclusions of the recently published "Energy Atlas" of the German Heinrich-Böll-Foundation. EURACTIV Germany reports.

German economy and environment ministries clash over coal commission

The German ministries for economic affairs and energy (BMWi) and environment (BMU) are clashing over who should lead a highly strategic future commission that is tasked with preparing the country’s coal exit.

RWE, E.ON reshape German power sector in Innogy asset swap deal

Germany's top utilities yesterday (11 March) announced plans to break up Innogy, whose assets will be divided among parent RWE and rival E.ON in the sector's biggest overhaul since a landmark move to exit nuclear power.

‘We are the Energiewende’: German villages go 100% renewable

Local communities are at the forefront of the clean energy transition in Germany, with some villages relying 100% on renewables. EURACTIV Slovakia spoke to mayors there.

An agenda for Germany’s ecological modernisation

No matter which parties will eventually form a coalition, Germany’s next government will continue with an agenda of ecological modernisation, writes Arne Jungjohann. Based  on exploratory coalition talks, he explains how such an agenda could look like.

Is German climate leadership being sacrificed on the altar of coal?

The pre-election politicking currently going on in Germany should ring alarm bells among climate policy advocates, warns Julian Schwartzkopff. If Angela Merkel does not take personal ownership of securing a climate-compatible coal phase-out, she could jeopardise her legacy as “climate chancellor”, he writes.

Dawn of new EU emissions rules could sound death knell for coal power

New EU rules formally agreed on Monday (31 July) mean power plants will have to cut pollutants, with the cost of compliance estimated to be over €15bn. Environmental groups predict that the logical next step is widespread closures of the most polluting coal-powered plants.

The true picture of the German Energiewende

Despite broad public acceptance, investments in renewable energy sources in Germany and the EU have been dramatically decreasing. The failing legislation and exclusion of citizen investments in renewables are jeopardising the Energiewende, writes Hans-Josef Fell.

German solar power association: Europe far from being energy pioneer

Solar energy will be critical to German and European efforts to decarbonise their economies. EURACTIV Germany reports on what contribution local schemes can make to European energy policy.

Merkel rebuffs German minister’s call to step into climate dispute

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday (2 November) rejected a call from her environment minister to intervene in a dispute over how to curb CO2 emissions that has prompted her cabinet to delay approving a climate action plan.

Bütikofer: Green parties ‘are not so limited in our reach as we once were!’

Pan-European polls do not paint a pleasant picture for the continent's green parties: if elections were to be held today, they would only win a quarter of the 50 seats they currently hold in the European Parliament. EURACTIV.de spoke with European Green MEP Reinhard Bütikofer about the issue.