Germany needs “efficiency revolution” – state secretary Baake

Germany will need an “efficiency revolution” to reach its target of halving energy consumption by 2050, according to energy state secretary Rainer Baake. At a conference by the German Industry Initiative for Energy Efficiency (DENEFF)  in Berlin, Baake said the consultation for his ministry’s Green Paper on energy efficiency had revealed broad support for establishing an “efficiency first” principle. He said a dedicated efficiency law could make sense if it contained concrete targets.
Baake said his ministry planned to release a white paper on the issue before the election, adding he hoped the new government would turn it into reality. He also lamented that concrete policy measures to increase efficiency were always met with many concerns, even though everybody was in favour of efficiency in theory.

Also read yesterday’s article State Sec sees efficient sector-coupling gaining ground post-election.

For background, read the CLEW factsheet From ideas to laws – how Energiewende policy is shaped and the dossier The Energiewende and Efficiency.