Energy research investments doubled in past ten years

The German government’s spending on energy research has more than doubled since 2006, the German Parliament (Bundestag) said in a press release. Research investments rose from around 400 million euros in 2006 to more than 875 million euros in 2016, according to a government report. These investments were partly responsible for the increased share of renewables in Germany’s power mix and a fall in primary energy consumption, “making the Energiewende a successful Made in Germany brand,” the government said. In 2016, the biggest share of renewables investment – around 116 million euros – went into solar PV technology, followed by wind power at roughly 86 million euros, and energy storage at nearly 57 million euros. On top of this, about 533 million euros was invested in nuclear fusion research over the last four years, such as for the international research reactor ITER in France, the government explained.

Find the government report in German here.