Wind turbines and solar panels in a field
Renewable energy

Cost-effective, plannable and market-focused: the 2014 EEG reform

The Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) has put wind power, biomass and photovoltaics in Germany on the path to success. The reform of the Act aims to substantially slow any further rise in costs, to systematically steer the expansion of renewable energy, and to bring renewable energy more and more to the market – while at the same time distributing the financial burdens more equitably.

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Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Sigmar Gabriel visits the offshore windpark "Baltic 1"
Wind power

Offshore blowing strong

Wind energy plays a cardinal role in the German renewable-energy mix. From the niche product of the 1990s it has evolved into a flagship of German mechanical engineering. Off our coasts more and more wind power units are feeding electricity into the grid.

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Chart showing the top 16 most energy efficient countries, lead by Germany

direct view

American study confirms: Germany is world champion in efficiency

Germany is the world champion in energy efficiency: this is the outcome of a study conducted by the Washington-based American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Germany comes in first in the ranking, ahead of all other major industrial nations.

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Thermal image of a street
Efficiency

Key factor for a successful Energy Transition

The ambitious target has been set: energy consumption in Germany is to drop by 20 per cent by 2020 compared to 2008. To achieve this target, the Federal Government has launched the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NAPE). Following the principle "Supply information - Provide support - Demand action" the plan aims to motivate businesses and society to use energy more efficiently and sparingly.

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Helicopter assists construction of a power pole
Grids

Saying "yes" to the Energy Transition means saying "yes" to the expansion of the grid

For the Energy Transition in Germany to succeed, it needs modern, high-capacity power grids. Because electricity is no longer generated only at a few large power plant sites, but increasingly at distributed locations. More and more photovoltaic installations and windfarms throughout the country are feeding electricity into the grid.

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Rainer Baake, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, at the powerupgrade 2030 event in Brussels.
Climate control

Europe 2030: 40 per cent less greenhouse gases

The German Energy Transition can only succeed in the European context. That is why Germany advocates an ambitious energy and climate policy at the European level, too. Last year the EU member countries agreed on three major climate change mitigation targets for 2030: 40 – 27 – 27 is the simple formula.

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Power pole with EU flag
Electricity market

Reliable supply of electricity guaranteed

Can the demand for electricity in Germany be met going forward, or is there a possible threat of bottlenecks? That this question must increasingly be seen and answered in a regional context is highlighted by two recent publications. These show: a reliable supply on the German electricity market is guaranteed at the highest level in the years to come.

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Technical sketch of an intelligent rotor blade
Research

Intelligent rotor blades – an example of innovation through research

Wind power units can be made much more efficient using smart technologies: so-called "smart blades" can adapt faster and better to local wind currents and so generate more electricity. How the idea can be made to work is being studied in a research project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy – one of many in the field of renewable energy.

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Logos of the der Renewable Energy Export Initiative
Exportinitiative Energie

German know-how tackles global challenges

German companies are world leaders in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency. The Federal Government is helping them to tap into international markets with two export initiatives.

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Logo Energiewechsel

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