More renewables against "fossil vulnerability"

22.04.2026

Source: E & M powernews

The war between the USA and Israel against Iran is causing crude oil prices to rise further. In view of this, a majority of Germans would like to see a faster expansion of green energies, according to a survey.

Vattenfall's head of Germany, Robert Zurawski, interprets the consequences of the current international crises for the German location as "fossil vulnerability". Against the backdrop of the war between the USA and Israel against Iran, the energy company commissioned a survey that reveals great economic concern among the population.

Among 5,000 people surveyed by the opinion research institute Civey, 81% said they were very or extremely concerned that the war was damaging Germany's economy. Zurawski links this to Germany's dependence on fossil fuel imports, which according to the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) costs around 81 billion euros a year. In any case, crude oil, LNG and hard coal are significantly more expensive than in other parts of the world. The war against Iran "is now further increasing this competitive disadvantage," says Zurawski.

Almost two thirds of those surveyed see a solution in the expansion of energy networks and storage facilities (62%). Slightly fewer (56%) cite the expansion of renewable energy production as a solution to make the energy supply more independent.

58% now consider the expansion of green energies to be more important

However, 58% emphasize that the expansion of renewables has become more important or significantly more important since the start of the war. The opposite view is held by 18 percent. According to Zurawski's assessment, many people feel that Germany "cannot afford less energy transition in the long term".

The survey result is interesting, according to which 38% of respondents also see additional conventional power plants as a contribution to a secure future. In addition, 25 percent were directly in favor of fossil fuel plants. The fact that Vattenfall is asking the question at all will also have something to do with the fact that the Swedish company also generates a considerable amount of energy from nuclear power in its domestic and international business. At the end of 2024, nuclear power accounted for 37.9 percent of the energy sources used, while fossil fuels still accounted for 9.3 percent.

Zurawski concludes: "Only a decarbonized Germany and Europe will be competitive in the long term - and also more independent and resilient." Investments in renewables, grids and storage will lead to independence, more stable and lower prices in the long term and a sustainable infrastructure for decades to come.

Author: Volker Stephan