ENERGY TURNROUND

World Summit Paper #15; Energy Turnround -- The Path to a Sustainable Energy System in Germany; an Oeko-Institut study by Dr. Felix Chr. Matthes and Martin Cames

Commissioned by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the Öko-Institut has taken a thorough look at the future of energy in Germany. Based on studies produced by different institutes, strategies have been developed for embarking on a new energy system, culminating in two scenarios for the period to 2020 that are compared with a status quo scenario.

The results are encouraging. On the basis of new energy policy directions already set, or now being prepared by the Red-Green Government Coalition (promotion of renewable energy and combined heat and power, improved thermal insulation of buildings, ecotax-based incentives for energy saving), ways are shown how Germany can fulfil its climate policy commitments and at the same time ensure competitive energy supply. Of decisive importance in this respect are an increase in energy efficiency, the further promotion of renewable energy and the creation of a sustainable traffic sector.

The corresponding potential is great, and the spectrum of productive political measures varied. The strict alignment of energy policy to climate policy requirements can and must result – especially under the conditions of liberalised energy markets – in strong momentum being provided by a new energy services sector for environmental protection, competitiveness and innovation.

The study intends to provide a contribution to a future-orientated energy policy under new conditions. Originally published in German already in the year 2000, we now make it available in English for the international public as a contribution to the debates along the World Summit, since it raises some fundamental arguments on energy policy which are still up-to-date.

[ pdf; 96 pages ]