Energy research key to climate neutrality – govt report

Energy research is a strategic key on the path to climate neutrality, said the German government in its 2021 energy research report.  Energy transition innovations are simultaneously paving the way to climate neutrality and strengthening the economy, energy minister Peter Altmaier said, stressing that energy research was a cornerstone of Germany’s national hydrogen strategy that was vital in initiating the market ramp-up towards a hydrogen economy. To that end, the government has established five so-called “regulatory sandboxes,” or real-world labs, that support energy transition innovation projects on an industrial scale. In addition to green hydrogen, the government is also investing in biomass research.

In the report, the government lays out its funding policy on energy research and the progress of its 7th Energy Research Programme, a cross-ministerial effort led by the ministry of economic affairs and involving the ministries of education and research as well as of food and agriculture. As part of the programme, the government is providing around 6.4 billion euros in funding between 2018 and 2022. In 2020, it spent some 1.22 billion euros on research, development and demonstration of new energy and efficiency technologies.