© Photothek/Thomas Trutschel
Staying on course: energy policy in uncertain times
The keynote address by Minister Reiche and the subsequent discussion at the "Securing the Future" congress organised by the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) were eagerly anticipated, as time is of the essence. The energy transition is entering its next phase at pace. To ensure that the expansion of renewable energy remains successful, the focus is now shifting to system integration, security of supply and affordability. This was probably one of the reasons why every seat in the largest hall at the conference was occupied when the Minister began her keynote address. Those who arrived late had to stand.
© Photothek/Thomas Trutschel
Addressing around 1,000 participants, Minister Reiche stressed that the three objectives of climate action, security of supply and affordability must go hand in hand. Sacrificing one of these, she warned, would “ultimately cause the energy transition to fail”.
The Federal Government is therefore pursuing a balanced, system-wide approach to further developing the energy supply. The energy transition must be environmentally, economically and socially sustainable, with increased dispatchable generation capacity, accelerated grid expansion, a stronger focus on the overall costs of the energy system and improved framework conditions for the hydrogen ramp-up. Taken together, all of this will create the conditions for a stable energy system. In particular, greater attention must be paid to the overall costs of the energy system.
This is essential if Germany is to remain an industrial economy with a climate-neutral future: hydrogen, storage technologies, smart grids and innovative companies are expected to create new economic value, while the energy transition should be seen as an opportunity for boosting growth and competitiveness. Summing up at the BDEW Congress, Minister Reiche said that the energy transition is a shared responsibility requiring policymakers, the energy industry, grid operators and industry to play their part.
“The question of whether climate action and economic strength can be successfully combined has not yet been answered.” “Anyone speaking here (at the BDEW Congress) is engaging not only with the sector itself, but also with those who will play a decisive role in shaping how resilient, competitive and climate-friendly Germany’s future will be. Together, we will take the next step towards further increasing Germany’s competitiveness,” she later also posted on social media.
The BDEW Congress is regarded as the largest annual gathering of Germany’s energy industry. Every June, representatives from the sector, industry, government, academia and NGOs come together to discuss the key issues facing the energy sector.