Energiewende is an inspiration, but not a blueprint for the world
German energy policy is noticed widely abroad. However, a majority of energy professionals do not see German energy policies as a global blueprint according to a recently published survey by the German member committee of the World Energy Council.
The Survey, German energy policy "“ a blueprint for the world, found that internationally, a large majority of the respondents (58%) are closely following the German energy transition. For one quarter of the European respondents surveyed among energy experts in 42 countries around the world, it has either triggered a national debate on energy or led to concrete political decisions on energy, whereas the influence is weak only outside Europe.
Compared with the last survey in 2015, the perception of the German Energiewende/energy transition has improved. Nevertheless, 60% of respondents do not think that the German energy transition can serve as a global blueprint.
Four out of five respondents said that at least parts of the concept could be adapted in their country, while in 2015 it was only slightly more than half.
"German energy policies are increasingly stimulating the international energy policy discussions, while the survey clearly shows that the concept as a whole is not considered to be transmittable, or even only in parts, as being "transferable", said Dr Carsten Rolle, Managing Director of Weltenergierat "“ Deutschland, summarising the results.
While 45% of Europeans indicated climate protection as the most important motivation for an energy transition, this was only true for 5 % of the respondents outside Europe, where growth (36%) and access to energy (27%) are the main issues.
"Outside Europe, the hunger for safe energy and economic growth is a far more powerful driver for an energy transition than climate protection," notes Dr Rolle, "in order to really be able to export our energy transition and new technologies, we have to support the countries much more in tackling their respective challenges".
As far as the most effective climate protection tools are concerned, 92% of the respondents said that energy efficiency measures are the best way forward. These were followed by measures to price CO2 "“ the latter especially if the G20 countries set an example (48%).
Dr Rolle said: "Efficiency is seen as the best way to protect the climate globally. This second pillar of the German energy policy has long been identified internationally".
The survey found funding measures for individual technologies were clearly rejected.
This is the fourth time the German member committee has carried out the annual survey since 2011 with both committee Secretaries and Future Energy Leaders participating this time around.
