Energy transition in danger? Borkum and Bavaria rely on natural gas!

Energy transition in danger? Borkum and Bavaria rely on natural gas!

A lot is happening in the area of ​​energy policy in Germany, and discussions about the exit from fossil fuels and the associated transition to renewable energies are very popular. Economics Minister Katherina Reiche is leading the way and is relying on natural gas as a transition technology. As the South Germans According to reports, new drilling for natural gas is to take place, particularly in northwestern Germany, such as in Borkum, as well as in Bavaria. Only the state governments bear responsibility for these projects, which also includes the responsible ministers in Lower Saxony, a Green Party. All decisions regarding the use of natural gas are under the influence of the federal government. Natural gas is seen as more climate-friendly than coal, although the question remains whether this is the most sustainable option.

But the exit from nuclear power, which was completed in 2023 with the shutdown of the last German nuclear power plant, has already left its mark. After this historic step, electricity prices and CO2 emissions in Germany have fallen to a new low. This development is pushing the country towards full renewable energy supply, a goal that is aimed for by 2030.

The role of renewable energy

However, the path to the energy transition is not a walk in the park. A comprehensive restructuring of the national energy system is required in order to achieve the ambitious goals. Like that Environmental Institute As noted, the expansion of onshore and offshore wind turbines plays a central role. Germany has already built up considerable capacities in this area and is continually investing in expanding them. Photovoltaic systems on roofs and in solar parks are also indispensable. Thanks to attractive funding programs and falling costs, the installation of such systems is increasingly being promoted.

But the measures to increase energy efficiency should not be neglected either. Renovations, energy-efficient new buildings and improved technologies can reduce overall energy consumption. The less energy is required, the less new generation capacity needs to be created. And innovations are also needed here: modern storage technologies, such as battery storage and hydrogen storage, help to stably integrate excess energy from renewable sources into the grid. All of these approaches increase the reliability and stability of our power grid.

Progress in the energy transition

The progress in the energy transition cannot be overlooked. 22.4% of gross final energy consumption in 2024 was covered by renewable energies, an increase of 0.8 percentage points compared to the previous year. The Federal Environment Agency reports that 41% of final energy consumption should be covered by renewable energies by 2030. In 2024, 284 billion kWh of electricity will have been generated from renewable energies. This shows a remarkable increase of 3% and a share that has almost doubled over the last ten years.

The most important renewable energy sources are now very clear: biomass leads with 47%, followed by wind energy with 27% and photovoltaics with 16%. The remainder is distributed between hydropower, geothermal energy and environmental heat. Around 256 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents were avoided in electricity generation in 2024, with the majority achieved through the use of renewable energies. These successes should not only strengthen the climate, but also social acceptance of the energy transition.

The challenge now is to maintain the necessary investment and public support for the energy transition. Without a flexible and fair energy market that promotes renewable energies, Germany will find it difficult to achieve the goals it has set. There is still a lot to do, but the will is there and that is the main thing.