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3 Renewable Energy L. & Pol'y Rev. 223 (2012)
The German Energiewende - History, Targets, Policies and Challenges

handle is hein.journals/relp2012 and id is 231 raw text is: The German Energiewende - History, Targets, Policies and Challenges 1 223 The German Energiewende - History, Targets, Policies and Challenges David Jacobs* Over the past years, the German Energiewende (energy transition) has gained a lot of attention internationally. In particular, policy makers and experts were impressed, astounded and sometimes shocked by the rapid decision of the German government to phase out nuclear power after the March 2011 accident in the Japanese power plants of Fukushima Daiichi. However, the term Energiewende implies a much larger scope of policies. With the aim to provide clarifications, this paper intends to define the term Energiewende, explain its historical context and describe the related targets and policies. In addition, the paper sheds light on the unique features of the German Energiewende in comparison to energy transitions in other jurisdictions. I. The German Energiewende - Terminology and history The German word Energiewende is difficult to trans- late. The term Wende can mean turn, turnabout, turning point, transition, etc. The most common terms used in an English translation are energy transition (indicating the transition from fossil fuels to renewables) and energy turnover, energy turnaround or energy policy u turn (indicating the rather dramatic change in energy policy follow ing the nuclear accident in Japan in March 2011). But when was the actual starting point of the Energiewende? Reading official documents from * Dr. David Jacobs is Research Associate in the Transdisciplinary Panel on Energy Change at the Institute of Advanced Sustainability Studies, Potsdam (Germany). He is also lecturer for energy policy related topics at the Freie Universitit Berlin. 1 Federal Cabinet Communication, Energiekonzept fur eine um weltschonende, zuverlissige und bezahlbare Energieversorgung (hereafter Federal Cabinet Energiekonzept), (Berlin, 2010). 2 Florentin Krause, Hartmut Bossel and Karl-Friedrich Muller- Reissmann, Energiewende Wachstum und WohIstand ohne Erddl und Uran. Oko Institute (Frankfurt: fischer verlag 1980). The title translates as: Energiewende Economic growth and prosperity without oil and uranium. 3 S. Jacobsson and V. Lauber, The politics and policy of energy system transformation: Explaining German diffusion of renewable energy technology. 34(3) Energy Policy 2006), pp. 256 276; V. Lauber, and L. Mez, Renewable electricity policy in Germany 1974 2005, in L. Mez. (ed) Green Power Markets Support schemes, case studies, and perspectives (Brentwood: Multi Science Publishing 2007), pp. 177 200. the current conservative-liberal government, one gets the impression that the Energiewende was initiated with the so-called Energiekonzept (energy concept) in 2010.1 By taking a closer look at the content of this policy concept (see below), interna tional observers might be surprised that this policy package actually prescribed the extension of the existing nuclear fleet's lifetime. Therefore, the story line seems to be a little bit more complex. Even though the term Energiewende became the buzz word of German energy policy in 2011, the concept of reducing the share of fossil fuels and increasing energy efficiency and the share of renewables has been promoted for a long time. The term Energiewende was first introduced back in 198o. The research institute Oko Institut published a book called Energiewende - Wachs- tum und Wohlstand ohne Erd6l und Uran.2 While the German anti-nuclear movement gained further strength in the 198os, an increasing number of policy initiatives for phasing out nuclear energy and increasing the share of renewable energy tech- nologies were started. This included rebates and R&D programs for renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency measures. The apparent need to re-design the national energy policy was further spurred by the nuclear accident in Cher- nobyl. In the 199os, the policy mix for supporting a more sustainable energy system was extended. However, policies primarily focused on the support RELP 412012

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