Ambition + Effort = Innovation - The Success Formula for the Energy Transition

At the center of public discussions, not entirely without reason, is the energy sector, because it will have to deliver a large part of Germany's CO2 reduction targets by 2030. The conversion of electricity generation to renewable energy sources alone is a mammoth task. But to replace conventional energy sources in other areas as well - such as mobility or industrial processes - direct or indirect electrification via intermediate storage will be necessary. This, however, will lead to a significant increase in electricity consumption: by 2030 alone, an increase of 27 percent compared with 2021, with the simultaneous shutdown of coal-fired and nuclear power plants.

It goes without saying that this additional consumption will also come from renewable sources. A few more figures give an impression of the dimension of the transition task: According to the plan of the climate protection ministry, 50 gigawatts of onshore wind energy capacity are to be added by 2030 alone. This would correspond to a doubling of current capacity. For offshore wind energy, an additional 23 gigawatts (+280 percent compared to 2021) are to be added, and for photovoltaics as much as 140 gigawatts, which would almost quadruple the current installed capacity. In the case of photovoltaics, around half is to be achieved through the construction of ground-mounted solar parks and half through rooftop installations on residential and commercial buildings. These figures alone make it clear that the expansion of renewable energies is a huge challenge, even under ideal conditions.