17.05.2024
Source: Energy & Management Powernews
More investment in energy efficiency would be possible with a lower electricity price, according to the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (ZVEI) at its E-Summit 2024 in Berlin.
"We can no longer afford our wasteful inefficiency - we need a turnaround in efficiency," demanded Gunther Kegel at the opening of the ZVEI's E-Summit on March 16 in Berlin. The President of the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (ZVEI) cited this as a lever for achieving climate protection targets while keeping Germany and Europe attractive and successful as business locations.
At a panel on China, the former President of the EU Chamber of Commerce, Jörg Wuttke, emphasized the limited market opportunities for European companies in the Asian country. Where there are no shielding measures, domestic industry is so heavily subsidized that European companies with different energy and raw material prices, environmental regulations and higher wage costs have no chance.
"The Chinese market is just as big for us as the Swiss market," said Wuttke, drawing on his many years of experience in Beijing. This makes it all the more important to remain technologically fit enough to be able to compete with the Chinese on global third-party markets.
Electrification brings efficiency gains
The turnaround in efficiency is also a key to this, explained President Kegel. Broad electrification of all areas of life, particularly the industrial, transport and residential sectors, would help. "We are convinced that the future is electric," said Kegel. Electricity from renewable sources is the raw material of the energy transition, including for renewably produced "green" hydrogen and synthetic fuels (e-fuels).
Electrification opens up unimagined efficiency potential for decarbonization, especially when paired with solutions for digitalization and automation. Primary energy consumption in the building sector could be reduced by up to 65 percent, said Kegel. The electrification of mobility would offer similar opportunities. However, the efficiency turnaround needs fewer obstacles for those who want to contribute to decarbonization and climate protection.
Company survey names hurdles
"The entire political and regulatory framework must become more coherent," he therefore called for a lower electricity price and fewer bureaucratic hurdles. According to a ZVEI survey, more than half of the companies surveyed described these as an obstacle. They were particularly bothered by long planning and approval procedures. 48% also cited a lack of or misguided regulatory incentives as a handicap.
According to the survey, nine out of ten companies in the German electrical and digital industry have already invested in measures to increase efficiency themselves. 50 percent have electrified their processes and systems, making electricity their primary energy source. Likewise, half have already set up their own power generation with renewable energies or purchase green electricity.
Among the planned measures, efficiency increases (85%), the establishment of their own power generation with renewable energy systems (58%) and switching to electricity or purchasing green electricity (around half of respondents in each case) dominate. In the evening, the conference participants will discuss these topics with political representatives from the federal government and the opposition.
Author: Susanne Harmsen
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