Germany already has set out ambitious goals for its energy policy in the coming years. The country is also at a crossroads after a Red and Green coalitions over the last two elective periods failed to make any major inroads on the issue of energy policy other then deciding to close nuclear power plants. Merkel a scientist herself by training says that Germany will do its part to curb C02 emissions and is looking to further cut CO2 emissions by 20% till 2020. This would represent a cut of 30 to 40 percent versus 1990 levels. Industry leaders have criticized these measures as unrealistic. Amongst others Dieter Zetsche of automotive manufacture Daimler was in attendance. E.ON one of Germany and Europe’s largest energy providers was also in attendance. Coal and nuclear which make up the majority of portfolios of companies operating power plants in Germany are seen as a threat. There is great uncertainty regarding this issue, even so Germany might have trouble finding its way to energy independence with limited land suited to technologies such as solar, wind, or wave. The needs of Europe’s largest nation by population far outpace its available domestic supplies of energy, hence coal and nuclear have often been popular forms.
There will also be incentives to save energy, according to the Chancellor Economics Minister Michael Glos and Environmental Minister Sigmar Gabriel who were also at the meeting will work together to put a proposal together by fall.
At meeting Gabriel talked once again about the improvements in insulation as well as heating systems which were reported in this magazine earlier this year. Added to this are now plans to use waste heat from power plants and more energy efficient home appliances.
The question remains how to feed power hungry industries such as the automotive sector which is the single largest employer in Germany while not allowing energy prices to rise too much. Adding to this are concerns what will replace the 17 nuclear power plants to be shut down by 2021.
