The German Energiewende
Transforming Germany’s energy system
Germany has decided to switch its entire energy supply to renewables and to become increasingly energy efficient. In this way, Germany is playing a major role in climate protection. The Energiewende is our answer to the question of how we can make the energy supply secure, affordable and sustainable. This unique opportunity for Germany as a location for business and investment will open up new business opportunities, foster innovation, create jobs, boost growth and make us less dependent on oil and gas imports. The German Government is very often asked about the Energiewende. At the same time, many people are surprised by the dimensions of the project and by how many aspects it involves. By transforming its energy system, Germany is taking its responsibility for the planet and its inhabitants seriously. These wide-ranging tasks and challenges are what we want to present on this website and in our travelling exhibition. We invite you to join us as we shift to green energy.
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Mumbai
17 Feb 2020 - 22 Feb 2020
NMIMS University -
Mumbai
13 Jan 2020 - 18 Jan 2020
Indian Institute of Technology -
Mumbai
20 Jan 2020 - 25 Jan 2020
Somaiya College -
Bangalore
18 Nov 2019 - 23 Nov 2019
National Centre for Biological Sciences -
Bangalore
08 Nov 2019 - 14 Nov 2019
Christ University -
Bangalore
18 Oct 2019 - 23 Oct 2019
RV College of Engineering -
Kochi
09 Oct 2019 - 12 Oct 2019
Rajagiri School of Engineering & Technology -
Jinan
11 Nov 2019 - 13 Nov 2019
Exhibition during the German-Chinese SME Conference -
Lima
14 Nov 2019 - 16 Nov 2019
Exhibition during the Sun World 2019 Conference -
Cairo
29 Aug 2019 - 29 Aug 2019
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Singapore
28 May 2019 - 30 July 2019
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Loma Plata
15 July 2019 - 15 Sept 2019
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Asunción
29 May 2019 - 14 July 2019
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Bischkek
01 Apr 2019 - 30 Apr 2019
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Kathmandu
11 Apr 2019 - 28 Apr 2019
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Busan
04 Apr 2019 - 18 Apr 2019
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Seoul
11 Mar 2019 - 25 Mar 2019
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Kilinochchi
15 Mar 2019 - 22 Mar 2019
Kilinochchi -
Colombo
08 Mar 2019 - 12 Mar 2019
Colombo -
Cuenca
11 Mar 2019 - 14 Apr 2019
Universidad Politécnica Salesiana -
Masdar City
10 Jan 2019 - 18 Jan 2019
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Al Ain
09 Dec 2018 - 15 Dec 2018
United Arab Emirates University -
Abu Dhabi
07 Nov 2018 - 07 Nov 2018
Beach Rotana Hotel -
Vicente Lopez
09 Nov 2018 - 11 Nov 2018
Expo Verde Fest -
Quito
28 Nov 2018 - 28 Feb 2019
Universidad Politecnica -
Jakarta
28 Oct 2018 - 09 Nov 2018
Atma Jaya University -
Krasnodar
15 Sept 2018 - 23 Sept 2018
Felitsyn Museum -
Bruges
12 Sept 2018 - 03 Oct 2018
College of Europe -
Surabaya
14 Nov 2018 - 28 Nov 2018
Grand City Mall -
Nanjing
05 July 2018 - 25 Dec 2018
Tengfei Mansion, No. 88, Jiangmiao Road, Jiangbei New Area -
Arusha
23 July 2018 - 10 Aug 2018
East African Community Secretariat -
Oran
15 Oct 2018 - 17 Oct 2018
ERA Oran - International Exhibition of Renewable Energies, Clean Energies and Sustainable Development -
Nairobi
25 June 2018 - 30 June 2018
Sarit Centre/Nairobi Westlands -
Buenos Aires
22 Oct 2018 - 04 Nov 2018
Buenos Aires' University -
Villa María
24 Sept 2018 - 29 Sept 2018
"Mariano Moreno" media centre -
REECON
05 June 2018 - 06 June 2018
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São Paulo
04 May 2018 - 09 May 2018
Impact Hub São Paulo -
Moscow
16 Apr 2018 - 20 Apr 2018
Moscow Power Engineering Institute -
Brasília
23 Apr 2018 - 27 Apr 2018
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Rio de Janeiro
11 Apr 2018 - 19 Apr 2018
Bloco H, Centro de Tecnologia - UFRJ -
Ulyanovsk
14 May 2018 - 20 May 2018
Forum "Wind Power 2018" -
Nairobi
18 June 2018 - 22 June 2018
United Nations Compound -
Nouakchott
07 June 2018 - 04 July 2018
Chambre de Commerce, d'Industrie et d'Agriculture de Mauritanie -
Tashkent
02 Nov 2018 - 11 Nov 2018
National Institute of Arts and Design -
Saint Petersburg
25 Apr 2018 - 27 Apr 2018
Russian International Energy Forum - RIEF -
Jaén
19 Mar 2018 - 27 Apr 2018
University -
Cave Hill/Barbados
25 Nov 2017 - 02 Dec 2017
University of the West Indies -
Melbourne
11 Oct 2017 - 12 Oct 2017
All-Energy Exhibition and Conference -
Zhenjiang
26 Sept 2017 - 28 Sept 2017
International Low Carbon Expo'17 -
Amman
16 Sept 2017 - 28 Sept 2017
Jordan Museum -
Cali
20 Mar 2017 - 16 Apr 2017
Club de Ejecutivos -
Perth
02 Nov 2017 - 11 Nov 2017
Hyatt Regency Hotel -
Miami
07 July 2017 - 31 July 2017
Miami Dade College -
Mexico City
11 Sept 2017 - 13 Sept 2017
MEXIREC congress -
Kuwait
16 July 2017 - 20 July 2017
Ministry of Electricity and Water -
Lappeenranta
09 Oct 2017 - 15 Oct 2017
Lappeenranta University of Technology -
Tampere
25 Sept 2017 - 01 Oct 2017
Tampere University -
Helsinki
18 Sept 2017 - 20 Sept 2017
Finlandia Hall -
Vaasa
28 Aug 2017 - 10 Sept 2017
Vaasa University -
Beijing
07 Apr 2016 - 29 May 2016
University of International Business and Economics -
Belgrade
24 Apr 2016 - 07 May 2016
Technical University -
Frankfurt
01 May 2016 - 03 May 2016
49th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development -
Washington, D. C.
12 May 2016 - 13 May 2016
Deutsche Botschaft -
Leskovac
12 May 2016 - 21 May 2016
Regional centre -
Cape Town
15 May 2016 - 18 May 2016
Africa Energy Transition Dialogue -
Cape Town
20 May 2016 - 25 June 2016
SARETEC -
Vranje
26 May 2016 - 30 May 2016
Technical University -
Belgrad
04 June 2016 - 08 June 2016
RENEXPO trade fair -
Chengdu
13 June 2016 - 25 June 2016
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Mexiko City
19 June 2016 - 16 July 2016
Forum Buenavista -
Guangzhou
20 July 2016 - 25 Aug 2016
Guangzhou library -
Pretoria
31 July 2016 - 13 Aug 2016
German Embassy -
Berlin
02 Aug 2016 - 28 Aug 2016
Federal Foreign Office -
Sacramento
06 Sept 2016 - 08 Sept 2016
CAISO conference (California Independent Systems Operator) -
Chengdu
06 Sept 2016 - 07 Oct 2016
Cultural centre -
Santa Clara
18 Sept 2016 - 21 Sept 2016
VERGE 2016 conference -
Islamabad
18 Sept 2016 - 21 Sept 2016
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Chengdu
02 Nov 2016 - 05 Nov 2016
Western China International Fair -
Hong Kong
02 Nov 2016 - 04 Nov 2016
Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business -
Sarajevo
08 Nov 2016 - 09 Nov 2016
RENEXPO trade fair -
Bogotá
30 Nov 2016 - 07 Mar 2017
“Maloka” educational centre -
Doha
05 Dec 2016 - 06 Dec 2016
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Warsaw
05 Dec 2016 - 06 Dec 2016
Palace of Culture and Science -
New York
08 Jan 2017 - 19 Jan 2017
United Nations -
Geneva
15 Jan 2017 - 28 Jan 2017
Palace of Nations -
Kraków
17 Jan 2017 - 23 Feb 2017
Agricultural University -
Kunming
15 Feb 2017 - 15 Mar 2017
Sino-German Cultural Centre -
Kielce
28 Feb 2017 - 08 Apr 2017
Trade fair centre -
Berlin
19 Mar 2017 - 20 Mar 2017
Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue -
Riyadh
25 Mar 2017 - 31 Mar 2017
Al Haram Mall -
Djidda
05 Apr 2017 - 14 Apr 2017
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Kuala Lumpur
11 Apr 2017 - 22 Apr 2017
Petronas Towers -
Hannover
23 Apr 2017 - 27 Apr 2017
Hannover Messe trade fair -
Qingdao
20 Apr 2017 - 30 May 2017
Sino-German Ecopark -
George Town
27 Apr 2017 - 06 May 2017
Khazanah Nasional -
Tampa
31 Jan 2017 - 10 June 2017
Museum of Science and Industry -
Tel Aviv
24 May 2017 - 12 June 2017
Porter School of Environmental Studies -
Bad Lauterberg
25 June 2017 - 29 June 2017
Hotel revita -
Trinidad
26 Sept 2017 - 06 Oct 2017
NIHERST -
Madrid
29 Oct 2017 - 18 Nov 2017
Polytechnic University -
Bonn
05 Nov 2017 - 16 Nov 2017
UN Climate Change Conference COP23 -
Valencia
14 Dec 2017 - 22 Jan 2018
City of Arts and Sciences -
Kuwait City
21 May 2017 - 25 May 2017
"The Avenues" mall -
Santiago de Chile
05 May 2017 - 25 May 2017
Cultural Center „Gabriela Mistral“, building B, entrance area -
New Delhi
06 Jan 2018 - 14 Jan 2018
New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) -
New Delhi
18 Dec 2017 - 30 Dec 2017
German House -
Faridabad
22 Jan 2018 - 04 Feb 2018
Manav Rachna International University -
Shanghai
13 Apr 2018 - 30 May 2018
German Centre -
Shanghai
01 June 2018 - 02 July 2018
Tongji University -
Algiers
26 Mar 2018 - 28 Mar 2018
Palais des Expositions d’Alger -
Bilbao
05 Mar 2018 - 15 Mar 2018
University of the Basque Country -
New Delhi
23 Feb 2018 - 28 Feb 2018
Indian Institute of Technology -
New Delhi
19 Mar 2018 - 23 Mar 2018
TERI University -
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The Energiewende and its diverse international history
Germany’s energy system will not be transformed overnight. We will switch to renewable energies by 2050, one step at a time, pursuing clear and ambitious targets and following a precise roadmap. The Energiewende is firmly embedded in an international framework. We welcome in-depth dialogue with our European neighbours and international partners, and aim at cross-border cooperation and solutions. We need joint solutions in order to create a secure, sustainable and affordable energy supply.
1971
1971
The German Government adopts its first environmental Programme.
1972
1972
One of Germany’s first solar-powered housing estates is built in the small town of Penzberg in southern Germany.
1973
1973
The Yom Kippur War (October 1973) sparks a global oil crisis. Germany introduces four car-free Sundays in order to save energy.
1975
1975
The Energy Security of Supply Act introduces higher energy reserve requirements and sets a speed limit on German roads. The German Government launches an information campaign on energy saving.
1977
1977
The German Government sets the first energy-efficiency standards for buildings in its Thermal Insulation Ordinance.
1979
1979/1980
The Iran-Iraq War sparks the second global oil crisis.
1984
1984
Enercon develops the first modern wind turbine for production on a commercial scale in Germany.
1986
1986
A major accident occurs in a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Ukraine. The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety is set up in Germany.
The first road-legal solar vehicle drives through Germany.
1987
1987
Westküste, Germany’s first wind farm, is built. It has 30 turbines.
1990
1990
The German Government launches a thousand-roof programme to fund photovoltaic (PV) plants. East and West Germany are reunited. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) publishes its first assessment report on the global climate.
1991
1991
The Electricity Grid Feed Act requires all German energy suppliers to purchase electricity generated from renewable sources and to feed it into the grid.
1992
1992
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro adopts the principle of sustainable development.
1994
1994
Europe’s first mass-produced electric car is launched on the market.
1995
1995
The first United Nations Climate Change Conference is held in Berlin, marking the start of talks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
1996
1996
Europe decides to liberalise its electricity and gas markets, which had previously been restricted to national territories. The European Commission publishes the first joint European strategy on the development of renewable energies.
1997
1997
The Kyoto Protocol on the global reduction of greenhouse gases is adopted. Since then, 191 countries have ratified the agreement.
1998
1998
Germany adopts a law liberalizing its electricity and gas markets.
2000
2000
The European Commission publishes the first joint strategy for enewable energy, energy efficiency and climate protection in Europe. The Renewable Energy Sources Act enters into force in Germany. It will become the driving force behind the development of renewable energies in Germany.
The German Government decides to phase out nuclear power. Nuclear power plants will be allowed to operate for a maximum of 32 years.
2002
2002
The first Energy Saving Ordinance comes into force. It sets standards for the overall efficiency of new and existing buildings. The first Act on Energy Efficiency Labelling creates transparency on the amount of energy consumed by products such as vehicles and domestic appliances.
2003
2003
Europe adopts a binding emissions trading system for greenhouse gases.
2004
2004
The renewable energy sector employs 160,000 people in Germany.
2005
2005
Emissions trading starts in Europe. All EU member states participate in the scheme.
2007
2007
The EU adopts a 2020 climate and energy package with binding targets for the development of renewable energies, climate protection and energy efficiency. Louis Palmer begins a journey around the world in the Solartaxi, a car powered entirely by solar energy. His trip takes 18 months.
2008
2008
Germany introduces an energy passport for buildings, which provides information about buildings’ energy consumption and efficiency. The Renewable Energies Heat Act stipulates that a certain amount of heat generation must be provided by renewable sources in new buildings.
2009
2009
The Power Grid Expansion Act speeds up the approval process for new high-voltage power lines.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is founded by 75 countries.
2010
2010
The German Government adopts an Energy Concept, a long-term strategy for Germany’s energy supply until 2050. The EU adopts a directive on the energy performance of buildings. From 2021, all new buildings are to be “nearly zero-energy buildings”.
The German Energy Agency (dena) publishes a study on the grid expansion needed for renewable energy to provide around 40 percent of Germany’s electricity.
2011
2011
A major accident occurs in a nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japan. Germany decides to phase out the use of nuclear power for electricity generation by 2022, earlier than originally planned. Eight old plants are immediately switched off. The European Commission published the Energy Roadmap 2050, a long-term strategy for climate protection and energy supply in Europe.
2012
2012
The Kyoto Protocol is extended until 2020 at the United Nations Climate Conference in Doha.
2013
2013
Germany adopts the first Federal Requirements Plan Act on the necessary expansion of the electricity transmission network.
The first completely newly developed electric drive car is mass-produced in Germany.
The first industrial-scale power-to-gas plant goes online in Germany.
2014
2014
Germany reforms the Renewable Energy Sources Act. The Act now includes annual development targets and imposes market integration. The EU agrees on energy and climate targets for 2030: to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent, to increase the share of renewables to at least 27 percent and to reduce energy consumption by at least 27 percent. Germany adopts the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan and launches the Climate Action Programme 2020.
With a share of 27.4 percent in the electricity mix, renewable energy becomes the most important source of energy in Germany for the first time.
2015
2015
The European Commission presents a framework strategy for an energy union. This focuses on five areas:supply security, a fully integrated internal energy market, energy efficiency, decarbonising the economy and energy research.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference meets in Paris and negotiates a follow-on agreement to the Kyoto Protocol.
2016
2016
The Paris Climate Agreement enters into force on 4 November after being approved by the first 55 countries’ national parliaments.
Germany restructures funding for renewable energies. As of 2017, calls for tenders have been issued for all types of technologies.
2018
2018
Travelling exhibition “Energiewende – Germany’s Energy Transition”
Hardly any other topic in German politics attracts as much international interest as energy policy. With the energy transition, Germany is pursuing an ambitious path to an energy policy which is more secure, affordable and sustainable. Interest is so great that the term Energiewende has found its way into the vocabulary of many different world languages. This is a source of great pride for us. After all, the energy transition also means more international networking to secure more sustainable energy supplies. At the same time, we are seeing time and again that a number of questions and misunderstandings persist around the world. With the travelling exhibition on the Energiewende and this website, we want to explain to you what the energy transition is all about, what milestones have been achieved and what challenges remain. The exhibition and this website were devised by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with the communications agency edelman.ergo on behalf of the Federal Foreign Office.
The Energiewende in your language
Our exhibition is travelling the world in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic and German. If you would prefer to read it in another language you can download various translations here.
Further languages will be added continuously.
A long-term project with many dimensions
The Energiewende is a fundamental restructuring and re-alignment of German energy policy. Yet, the Energiewende is multi-dimensional and goes far beyond the power sector. A successful transition can only be achieved by considering – inter alia – transport, research and development, international coordination and public participation.