Climate neutrality: what is possible in Germany

A research center believes that a rapid transformation of the energy system in Germany is possible. In order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, many wind turbines have to be built.

The federal government wants to achieve a “net zero” of carbon dioxide emissions by 2045. Prior to the climate ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court, it targeted it in 2050. Compared to these goals, the desire to build an energy system by 2030 appears to work 100 percent with “Renewables” is fantastic. Yet the Energy Watch Group (EWG) in Berlin considers this necessary – and possible. However, the energy transition has to really get a turbo for this, especially as photovoltaics expand and store electricity and heat.

The study background is: Germany must be climate neutral within ten years in order to fulfill the Paris climate treaty. According to the Federal Government’s Environmental Advisory Council (SRU), the Federal Republic of Germany only had a budget remaining of 6.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide in 2020, which would roughly be used in 2030 if emissions were not drastically reduced.

Climate change: more wind turbines in Bavaria

According to EWG experts, investments in solar, wind energy, bioenergy, geothermal and hydropower as well as in storage, heat pumps and electric motors in traffic for the 2030 project should be increased. The decentralized expansion of all technologies across the country, especially wind power in the southern federal states, Is essential. In this way, the further expansion of the electricity highways from north to south can be avoided, which is time consuming and very costly.

The expansion rates for technologies should be increased in some cases by up to twenty times compared to the current level. For photovoltaics, for example, the concept provides for annual installation of systems with a production capacity of 85 gigawatts (GW). For comparison: newly installed well 4.8GW in 2020, the previous maximum reached in 2012 of 7.6GW. Another important point in the EEC concept is the increase in energy efficiency. In this way, the thermal regeneration of homes is greatly accelerated, and the rate of renewal increases from one to six percent of existing buildings annually.

Emission: conversion in the shortest possible time

The think tank admits that the innovation needed now appears enormous. But it is “entirely possible.” The President of the European Economic Community, Hans-Joseph Vail, commented that the necessary transformation had a “man to the moon” character. “These phenomenal growth rates are comparable to those achieved so often in just one decade in previous technological revolutions in world history: the moon landings, computers, the Internet and mobile communications.” Transmission system.

The think tank asserts that the energy scenario is “technically and economically viable”. The energy cost will be “at a similar level” as it was in 2018. You don’t need to worry about power outages. The concept guarantees “full coverage of the demand, even in a dark winter stagnation, up to the hour” – that is, when the sun is not shining and the wind is low.

Climate neutrality: what is possible in Germany

Questions regarding acceptance of the proposed rapid expansion of the study were not addressed. It was first and foremost about technical and economic feasibility, and was said on request.

If this concept is implemented, Germany will become the world leader in the innovation competition for climate neutrality as an industrialized country, according to experts, “ahead of the United States and China.” “In light of the climate emergency, we cannot choose whether to act or not,” says lead author Thure Traber. Regulatory, political and infrastructure obstacles are preventing the rapid development of Germany’s zero-emissions energy system. These can be eliminated.

The research center criticizes that Germany has lost its global technological leadership in wind and solar energy, which it achieved in the first decade of the current century, due to the political neglect of these forms of energy in the past decade. As a result, around 140,000 jobs were canceled.