“Dangerous polarisation”

The German discussion about the energy transition is “marked by polarisation, polemic, and misleading reasoning”, writes former energy industry manager Thomas Unnerstall in a guest commentary in Handelsblatt. One side criticises “exploding costs” and “a gradual de-industrialisation”, others criticise the introduction of auctions for renewables support, and others emphasise climate protection so much that they ignore economic feasibility. This polarisation undermined the societal consensus needed for a project like the Energiewende: “More honesty is needed, more fact-based orientation, more spirit of compromise – on both sides,” writes Unnerstall, who wrote the book “The German Energy Transition - Design, Implementation, Cost and Lessons”.

For background on the German generational project, check out CLEW’s Germany's Energiewende: The Easy Guide.