The main message delivered by Röttgen yesterday was clear: We act domestically as we preach to others to do. A strong message we could hope reaches out to leaders across the developed world, not least of which being the Norwegian government, where voices are rising to decrease domestic CO2 cuts in favour of a higher amount of cuts abroad (i.e. through buying emission quotas).
In a time of economic crisis across the European continent, Germany dares to launch ambitions that oil rich Norway, with its state finances hardly hit by the EU crisis, will not.
“Thirty-five percent renewable electricity production by 2020 will move toward 80 percent by 2050", Röttgen said. “The Fukushima disaster aftermath provided an opportunity to reassess our energy system. The decision has been made to turn our backs to nuclear energy in 10 years." he said, adding: “We want to decouple economic growth from CO2 emissions through resource efficiency, to show the world that it's possible. We are providing €5 billion credits to offshore wind farms in the coming years, and we will ensure grid improvements through economic incentives, legal frameworks and research investments."
However, Röttgen admitted that with the choice to move away from nuclear energy, some fossil sources will remain necessary in the future. While pointing to fossil gas as the most interesting source, he said that new coal plants are also planned in Germany in the coming decade (with the carbon lock-in that they cause).
Röttgen moreover stated that energy storage is of major importance to the German energy concept, for the same reason: to secure electricity grid balance and base load. Read the full report here.
Source: Bellona, Durban, South Africa.
