Renewable energy: Paving the way towards sustainable energy security Lessons learnt from Germany

Renewable Energies are the solution for the huge challenges of the 21st century: They provide long-term energy security for developed and for developing countries. They trigger sustainable growth with a huge amount of future oriented jobs. They help mitigate climate change with a mix a decentralized and large scale technologies. Most of the necessary technologies are mature and ready for large scale deployment. However, in distorted markets with dominant monopolies or oligopolies, there is no level playing field for renewable energies. Support policies are necessary to foster development and deployment of different technologies of renewable energies. Well-designed support systems can trigger growth, cost decrease and progressive competitiveness of new technologies for a secure energy future. The case of Germany can serve as an example. Broad political consensus about the necessary changes towards renewable energies and energy efficiency and a reliable framework for investors has fostered growth and cost decreases, and at the same time, new small and medium market entrants were encouraged. These developments were facilitated by a clear and reliable framework, especially by the feed-in law for electricity from renewables. In my presentation, I will explain how the support mechanisms are designed and how they are fostering industry development. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.