About: Energiewende

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.

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.

German electricity transmission CEO: ‘80% renewables is no problem’

Germany’s pursuit of a low carbon economy, the Energiewende, is in full swing, but questions have emerged over its feasibility. EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel spoke with Boris Schucht, who is head of one of Germany’s largest electricity providers.

Joachim Weimann: ‘With renewables, we are wasting resources’

No form of support for renewable energy sources has an effect on the actual amount of CO2 reduction, says Magdeburg-based environmental economist Joachim Weimann, recommending emissions trading and burden-sharing with developing countries to tackle climate change.

Bärbel Höhn: Renewables are ‘the most important source of energy in Germany’

“It is simply not worth it to invest in coal power plants," says Bärbel Höhn. Speaking to EURACTIV Poland, the German lawmaker talks about the realities of the Energiewende, its costs and benefits, as well as its impact on coal-rich areas.