Energy goals in danger: German expansion of wind power and electromobility falls short of expectations

Need for action on renewable energies: Why the federal government is not yet achieving its goals by 2030

The federal government's energy goals are currently still a long way off, as a current study by the German Institute for Economic Research Berlin (DIW) shows. Although the expansion of onshore wind power already represents progress of around 51 percent of the 2030 target, the expansion of offshore wind power is significantly behind at only 28 percent of the target. When it comes to electromobility, things look even bleaker: of the targeted 15 million electric cars, only around 1.2 million have been registered, which corresponds to a rate of just 7.8 percent. The number of charging points for electric cars is similarly unsatisfactory.

The DIW experts have also calculated that the current pace of expansion is too low for almost all indicators to be able to achieve the goals for 2030. They compared the expansion trend of the last twelve months with the pace that would be required to achieve the 2030 goals. This shows that both the expansion of wind power on land and, in particular, the expansion of wind power at sea are lagging behind photovoltaics. This indicates an urgent need for action on wind power. The expansion of electromobility is still far too slow.

In order to achieve the federal government's energy goals by 2030, significant efforts and measures are required. Increased investments must be made in the expansion of wind power both on land and at sea in order to increase electricity generation from renewable energies. In addition, the barriers and bureaucratic hurdles to the construction of wind turbines must be reduced in order to enable faster progress.

Targeted measures should also be taken in the area of ​​electromobility to accelerate expansion. These include financial incentives such as government subsidies and tax advantages for the purchase of electric vehicles. It is also important to provide a comprehensive network of charging points for electric cars in order to reduce range anxiety and make the switch to electric mobility more attractive.

Investments should also be made in the research and development of more powerful batteries in order to increase the range of electric vehicles and shorten their charging times. Close cooperation between politics, business and research institutions is essential in order to advance innovative technologies and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

It is also important to educate the public about the benefits of renewable energy and electromobility in order to gain acceptance and support among the population. Education and information campaigns can help raise awareness of sustainable energy sources and environmentally friendly mobility.

The implementation of the energy goals therefore requires a holistic approach that includes political measures, economic incentives, technological innovations and broad social participation. Only through a consistent and accelerated expansion of renewable energies and electromobility can Germany achieve its climate goals and make a contribution to the global energy transition.

DIW Traffic Light Monitor Energy Transition – Image: DIW BERLIN

The current headlines:

“Loss of pace in the energy transition: Germany is in danger of missing the 2030 target”
“Below expectations: Why the energy transition in Germany is stalling”
“Energy transition in danger: Germany is in danger of falling behind”
“The race against time: Why “Germany must act now to accelerate the energy transition.”

The speed at which the energy transition is progressing in Germany is causing increasing concern, as it is clearly too slow to achieve the energy policy goals for 2030. This is particularly clear from the expansion figures in various areas of renewable energy and electromobility.

A worrying example is photovoltaics, which plays a central role in renewable electricity generation. According to current data, the pace of expansion of photovoltaics is only 49 percent of the average pace that would be required to achieve the 2030 goals. This means that the expansion of solar energy is progressing far too slowly to meet the need for climate-friendly electricity generation.

The expansion of wind power, both on land and at sea, is also lagging far behind expectations. The current expansion rate for onshore wind power is only 33 percent of the required average rate. This shows that the construction of new onshore wind farms is not progressing quickly enough to generate the planned amounts of renewable energy. Even more alarming, however, is the situation with offshore wind power, where the pace of expansion is just 22 percent of the 2030 target. This is a clear sign that there is an urgent need for action to fully exploit the potential of offshore wind energy.

Another area in which Germany is lagging behind is electromobility. Instead of achieving the desired 100 percent, the expansion rate of battery-electric cars is currently only 24 percent. This means that the transition to zero-emission vehicles is happening far too slowly to significantly reduce transport emissions and achieve climate goals. The development of public charging points for electric vehicles is similarly inadequate, with the expansion rate being only 27 percent. This represents an obstacle to the acceptance and spread of electric mobility, as sufficient charging infrastructure is essential for the widespread use of electric vehicles.

In view of these alarming expansion figures, it is urgent that the federal government and other actors increase their efforts to advance the energy transition. There is a need for accelerated installation of photovoltaic systems in order to significantly increase the share of solar energy in electricity generation. In addition, the bureaucratic hurdles and approval procedures for the construction of wind turbines must be revised and accelerated in order to promote expansion both on land and at sea.

In the area of ​​electromobility, financial incentives such as government subsidies and tax advantages for the purchase of electric vehicles are essential to stimulate demand. A comprehensive and reliable charging infrastructure is also of great importance in order to reduce range anxiety and make the switch to electromobility more attractive.

In addition, increased investment in research and development should be made to develop more powerful batteries that increase the range of electric vehicles and shorten charging times. Collaboration between politics, business and research institutions plays a crucial role in driving innovation and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

The challenges of the energy transition require a comprehensive and coordinated approach that includes political measures, economic incentives, technological innovations and broad social participation. Only through accelerated and decisive implementation can Germany achieve its energy goals for 2030 and make its contribution to the global energy transition.

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