Source: Energy & Management Powernews, January 13, 2022
The Association of Bavarian Business has presented its energy transition monitor for the tenth time. Conclusion: it's not all bad, but not really good either.
With a traffic light system (red, yellow, green), the Swiss consulting firm Prognos has been presenting the progress of the energy transition in Bavaria and Germany since 2012. In the tenth year of the survey for the Association of Bavarian Business (VBW), the report reveals significant deficits in the transformation to a climate-neutral economy. "This year's results show once again that we are treading water at best," said VBW CEO Bertram Brossardt to journalists at the online event.
The "Monitoring of the Energy Turnaround," as it is officially titled, reviews the specified goals of politics in terms of the energy turnaround. At the same time, the report was, like many things, under the influence of the Corona pandemic. This is because energy consumption fell by minus 7.1% in the 2020 monitoring year compared to the previous year because of the virus. "As a result, greenhouse gas emissions also fell comparatively significantly by 8.6 percent," it says.
All traffic light colors occur
This means, calculated for Germany, that the traffic light for greenhouse gas emissions continues to be set to green, meaning that an improvement has occurred. The German government's CO2 reduction targets have been met. In terms of security of supply and energy efficiency, the value is stagnating and the traffic light is set to yellow. As far as affordability is concerned, the value has deteriorated - for industry as well as for households. The traffic light is red there.
The VBW CEO is particularly concerned about the red for the sub-item expansion of power grids. "Above all, the faster grid expansion so urgently needed in Bavaria is simply not gaining momentum." The report describes security of supply as "moderately satisfactory." Redispatch measures to stabilize the power grid would have increased further and reached a new high in 2020.
In addition, the climate policy framework for the energy turnaround in the federal government has tightened in the past - keyword early climate neutrality by 2045. With the new government, further ambitious energy turnaround targets are formulated. Brossard criticized thereby that although gladly the goals would be intensified, the conversion in all ranges leaves however further to desire.
"With each year the pressure grows, but no deeds follow." Claim and reality would continue to diverge with the energy turnaround "miles far." The conversion of the energy system must now be tackled immediately and decisively."
10H rule for wind turbines is to be overturned
To this end, the chief executive of the Bavarian economy also had a few demands with him that contradict the Bavarian state government. Thus must be started in Bavaria now an overdue development offensive. Above all the distance regulation to wind turbines, 10H, valid in Bavaria, must be urgently examined and if necessary abolished. PV plants belong in the opinion of the VBW in principle on each roof. The state must be a role model for its own properties. Faster planning and approval procedures are thereby compelling.
The policy is demanded to provide for acceptance of the energy turnaround: "The energy turnaround will not succeed without impositions and interferences into our landscape. Visible successes must be allowed to be visible, for example wind turbines."
The report "10th Monitoring of the Energy Turnaround" by the Bavarian Business Association can be downloaded from the association's website.
Author: Stefan Sagmeister