The energy transition will only be successful if changes are made in energy research

Ruchser, Matthias
Externe Publikationen (2013)

in: Diplomatisches Magazin 2/2013, 28-31

After the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, the German government in 2011 decided a nuclear power phase-out. However, due to its misguided energy policy over the past years, Chancellor Merkel’s federal government is ill prepared for the energy transition or in German, the “Energiewende”. Up until the reactor accident in Fukushima, the energy policy was mainly focused on nuclear energy. This was manifested not only in the extension of the operational period, but also in the massive investment in funding for nuclear energy and atomic fusion research that still exists today.

Since 2011, the percentage of nuclear energy as part of gross electricity production as well as primary energy consumption has been less than the percentage of renewable energy sources. In 2012, nuclear energy accounted for just eight per cent of primary energy consumption, demonstrating a decreasing trend. This small amount is totally disproportionate to the high percentage of energy research funding it receives. Chancellor Merkel’s federal government apparently lacked the will or strength to make the necessary changes in energy research after the resolution in favour of a nuclear phase-out; the next Federal Government coming in October 2013 needs to rectify this mistake. Only then will Germany be able to stay the course as a top global innovator and technology leader in renewable energy development and energy efficiency in the future.