Germany’s Energy Minister Katherina Reiche has published a monitoring report on the energy transition, alongside a 10-point Action Plan to recalibrate the system. The report, prepared by EWI Köln and BET, concludes that the transition is broadly on track but recommends adjustments to support the integration of renewables.
It estimates electricity demand in 2030 at 600–700 TWh, with the Ministry expecting demand near the lower end. Critics argue this underestimates the likely impact of economic growth, electric mobility, heating, data centres and renewable hydrogen production, and risks limiting the benefits of wider electrification.
The Action Plan confirms the targets of 80% renewable electricity by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2045, while outlining measures to optimise costs. Key elements include:
- Moving from the current support scheme for onshore wind to two-sided Contracts for Difference (CfDs), supported by Power Purchase Agreements.
- Introducing innovative grid measures such as network traffic lights, cable pooling and regional bonuses, with overhead lines prioritised.
- Tackling grid connection queues with new digital queue management systems.
- Promoting collocation of renewables and storage, and accelerating storage permitting.
- Establishing a technology-neutral capacity market by 2027, including renewables, storage and new gas power plants.
The government maintains that a full policy reorientation is not needed, focusing instead on targeted improvements to keep the transition cost-effective and reliable.
