10 Oct 2016

Lobby group estimates Energiewende costs at 520 billion euros

Initiative New Social Market Economy

The total cost of the German energy transition in the electricity sector until 2025 will amount to more than 520 billion euros, according to a study commissioned by industry lobby group Initiative New Social Market Economy (INSM). The largest part of the costs was caused by the renewables surcharge with 408 billion euros, while the expansion of the power grid cost 55.3 billion euros, according to the study. Until the end of 2015, the energy transition had already cost 150 billion euros, according to INSM. The authors call for substituting the support system created by the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) with a quota model that would oblige utilities to sell a certain share of renewable power. This would lead to competition between different technologies based on market economy principles, says INSM in a press release.

Find the press release and the full study in German here.

Find background information in the CLEW factsheet Balancing the books: Germany's "green energy account", and the CLEW dossier Energiewende effects on power prices, costs and industry.

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