Germany’s energy sector is currently undergoing profound upheaval at a time
when the country’s economy as a whole is experiencing unprecedented levels
of change.
No other industrialised nation has ever dared to undertake such an
experiment by completely transforming an entire area of infrastructure. If the
project is a success, it could be used as a blueprint for other countries. Every
industrialised nation is watching Germany right now.
The learning curves are encouraging with wind and solar power production
costs falling, not least because of the way in which major subsidies have
enabled mass production. Germany’s shift in energy policy – with its key themes
of transforming its power plant portfolio and realigning automobiles towards
electric propulsion – will take a generation to implement. While both government
and society are committed to this inter-generational contract despite the
extremely high levels of investment required, the intense debate over costs is
likely to continue.
EU Forecast
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