German “Energiewende” and the Role of the EU - are Misfits an Achilles Heel of the Energy Transition in Germany?

Abstract

Stated goal of the energy policy proclaimed by all German federal governments since the Fukushima incident of 2011 is a fundamental transformation of the national energy system towards renewable (excluding nuclear) energies. However, since German energy policy is embedded into a European multilevel governance system, not only national but also European forces shape the German “Energiewende”. By analyzing the complex political and legal interlinkages, we identify fits and misfits between national and European policy initiatives in functionally related energy fields. We first find broad coherence between the EU and German energy transition objectives. Objectives deviate in one area, phase-out of nuclear power in Germany, not paralleled at EU-level. Secondly, we observe more extensive misfit for preferred policy instruments that pressured Germany to change. This concerns instruments tied to the support of renewable energy and the operation of electricity networks in support of the transition, where the German policy approach saw a misfit with internal energy market regulations in the EU. Whereas European adaptation pressure caused a shift in the German renewable energy support policy, resulting in a slowdown in the expansion of renewable energies, EU pressure to end coal subsidies helped to accelerate the coal phase-out in Germany.

Keywords: Energiewende, Germany, European Union, Nuclear and coal phase-out, renewable energies, Energy Networks