Germany: Frontrunner in Europe with Respect to Energy System Transition?
Abstract
In Europe, Germany is the greatest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions. With ambitious targets regarding reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and use of energy carriers, Germany aims to be a frontrunner in Europe with respect to energy and environmental policy. However, increasing problems after harvesting “low-hanging” fruits and increasing activities of other countries strengthen the impression that Germany may not be a “frontrunner” or a “leader” anymore. Using indicators with respect to greenhouse gas emissions, to energy use and supply, as well as to technological aspects, we analyze the role of Germany in the European context. The results show that other countries demonstrate partially better performances. Germany can still be regarded as a leader with respect to PV and wind power plants. However, there are signs that Germany could lose some of its remaining advantages. Thus, for Germany, the label “frontrunner” should be used more carefully.
References
- Beise, M., & Rennings, K. (2005). Lead markets and regulation: A framework for analyzing the international diffusion of environmental innovations. Ecological Economics, 52(1), 5–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- BMWI. (2016). Fifth “energy transition” monitoring report – the energy of the future. Berlin: The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi).Google Scholar
- BMWI. (2017). Complete edition of energy data – data collection of the federal ministry for economic affairs and energy. Retrieved May 20, 2017, from http://www.bmwi.de
- Brendebach, B., Imielski, P., Kühn, K., & Rehs, B. (2015). Stilllegung kerntechnischer anlagen in Europa. Salzgitter: Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS).Google Scholar
- European Commission. (2015). Report from the commission to the european parliament and the council – assessment of the progress made by Member States towards the national energy efficiency targets for 2020 and towards the implementation of the energy efficiency directive 2012/27/EU as required by Article 24 (3) of energy efficiency directive 2012/27/EU. Brussels.Google Scholar
- European Commission. (2017). 2020 climate & energy package. Retrieved May 31, 2017, from https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/strategies/2020_en
- European Parliament & Council of the European Union. (2009). Directive 2009/28/EC of the European parliament and of the council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC. Brussels.Google Scholar
- Eurostat. (2017a). Energy from renewable sources – SHARES 2015 results. Retrieved May 20, 2017, from http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/energy/data/shares
- Eurostat. (2017b). Greenhouse gas emissions per capita. Retrieved May 20, 2017, from http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database
- Eurostat. (2017c). Greenhouse gas emissions, base year 1990. Retrieved May 20, 2017, from http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database
- EWEA. (2016). Wind in power – 2015 European statistics. Brussels: European Wind energy Association (EWEA).Google Scholar
- German Federal Government. (2017). Germany’s projections report of 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2017, from http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/de/eu/mmr/art04-13-14_lcds_pams_projections/projections/envwqc4_g/
- IEA. (2016). Trends 2016 in photovoltaic applications. Paris: OECD/IEA.Google Scholar
- IEA. (2017a). Global EV outlook 2017. Paris: OECD/IEA.Google Scholar
- IEA. (2017b). Policies and measures databases. Retrieved May 31, 2017, from http://www.iea.org/policiesandmeasures/
- IRENA. (2013). Renewable energy and jobs – annual review 2013. Abu Dhabi: International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).Google Scholar
- IRENA. (2014). Renewable energy and jobs – annual review 2014. Abu Dhabi: International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).Google Scholar
- IRENA. (2015a). Renewable energy and jobs – annual review 2015. Abu Dhabi: International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).Google Scholar
- IRENA. (2015b). Renewable energy prospects: Germany, REmap 2030 analysis. Abu Dhabi: International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).Google Scholar
- IRENA. (2016). Renewable energy and jobs – annual review 2016. Abu Dhabi: International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).Google Scholar
- IRENA. (2017). Renewable energy and jobs – annual review 2017. Abu Dhabi: International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).Google Scholar
- KBA. (2016). Fahrzeugzulassungen (FZ) Bestand an Kraftfahrzeugen nach Umwelt-Merkmalen 1. Januar 2016. Flensburg: Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA).Google Scholar
- OECD. (2012). OECD environmental performance reviews OECD environmental performance reviews: Germany. Paris: OECD.Google Scholar
- OECD. (2016). G20 innovation report 2016 – report prepared for the G20 science, technology and innovation ministers meeting. Paris: OECD.Google Scholar
- Quitzow, R., Roehrkasten, S., & Jaenicke, M. (2016). The German energy transition in international perspective. Potsdam: Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS).Google Scholar
- REN21. (2016). Renewables 2016 global status report. Paris: REN21 Secretariat.Google Scholar
- Rennings, K., & Smidt, W. (2010). A lead market approach towards the emergence and diffusion of coal-fired power plant technology. Economia Politica, 27(2), 303–328.Google Scholar
- Steinbacher, K., & Pahle, M. (2016). Leadership and the energiewende: German leadership by diffusion. Global Environmental Politics, 16(4), 70–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- The World Bank Group. (2017). World development indicators. Retrieved May 20, 2017, from http://databank.worldbank.org/data/home.aspx
- UN Comtrade. (2017). United nations commodity trade statistics database. Retrieved June 1, 2017, from https://comtrade.un.org/db/default.aspx
- WEF. The global competitiveness report 2016–2017. Geneva: World Economic Forum (WEF).Google Scholar
- Weidner, H., & Mez, L. (2008). German climate change policy – a success story with some flaws. The Journal of Environment & Development, 17(4), 356–378.CrossRefGoogle Scholar