Outlook
The outlook for 2021 is, of course, beset with extreme uncertainty given the difficult conditions we currently face with regard to public health. Nevertheless, we are hopeful that life will gradually return to normal over the course of the year and we, as Renewable Energy Hamburg, will once again be able to hold more in-person events for our members in the second half of the year, alongside the many digital offerings.
2021 is, of course, an election year in Germany, and for us as a cluster agency, this means sending out a continuous signal to help steer the future direction of energy policy. Firstly, a reasonable price must be put on carbon emissions, climate protection must be effective, and a level of competition must emerge with which renewable energy can absolutely keep pace. Secondly, everything must be done to ensure that the various renewable energy sectors are expanded ambitiously enough that future climate protection targets are achieved.
Even though the climate protection plan of Germany’s federal government, which entered into force at the end of 2019, provides for a cautious start with regard to carbon pricing, and the Renewable Energy Act was revised at the end of 2020, significant improvements are necessary. This is the only way to push ahead with the coupling of different energy sectors. Increasing quantities of green electricity must also be available in the future to take over industry, mobility and the supply of heating. Carbon pricing must lead to a concurrent reduction in the green energy levy and increase in the costs of fossil-fuel-based energy supplies. Until now, sector coupling has been made uneconomical, in most cases, by the unequal cost burden. This is where the work of Renewable Energy Hamburg as a cluster agency comes in: from lobbying work, to projects, to events in which this issue plays a significant role.
The development of a hydrogen industry will also become key for Renewable Energy Hamburg as part of sector coupling. Even if hydrogen is not the “panacea”, the conversion of green energy to hydrogen may stabilise the fluctuations in the electricity system that are experienced with the increasing proportion of green electricity and supply consumers, particularly in industry and heavy goods mobility, with carbon-free energy. Another particular focus of our work lies in renewable energy plants, which no longer receive any subsidy under the Renewable Energy Act after 20 years, but which could often continue to generate green electricity for many years to come.
Last but not least, we look forward to holding more individual meetings and networking events in person once again, alongside all the digital offerings that our members are able to enjoy. We hope, in the second half the year, during the run-up to the parliamentary elections, to use our member events to convey a powerful message in support of an ambitious and successful sustainable energy supply!
Outlook
The outlook for 2021 is, of course, beset with extreme uncertainty given the difficult conditions we currently face with regard to public health. Nevertheless, we are hopeful that life will gradually return to normal over the course of the year and we, as Renewable Energy Hamburg, will once again be able to hold more in-person events for our members in the second half of the year, alongside the many digital offerings.2021 is, of course, an election year in Germany, and for us as a cluster agency, this means sending out a continuous signal to help steer the future direction of energy policy. Firstly, a reasonable price must be put on carbon emissions, climate protection must be effective, and a level of competition must emerge with which renewable energy can absolutely keep pace. Secondly, everything must be done to ensure that the various renewable energy sectors are expanded ambitiously enough that future climate protection targets are achieved.
Even though the climate protection plan of Germany’s federal government, which entered into force at the end of 2019, provides for a cautious start with regard to carbon pricing, and the Renewable Energy Act was revised at the end of 2020, significant improvements are necessary. This is the only way to push ahead with the coupling of different energy sectors. Increasing quantities of green electricity must also be available in the future to take over industry, mobility and the supply of heating. Carbon pricing must lead to a concurrent reduction in the green energy levy and increase in the costs of fossil-fuel-based energy supplies. Until now, sector coupling has been made uneconomical, in most cases, by the unequal cost burden. This is where the work of Renewable Energy Hamburg as a cluster agency comes in: from lobbying work, to projects, to events in which this issue plays a significant role.
The development of a hydrogen industry will also become key for Renewable Energy Hamburg as part of sector coupling. Even if hydrogen is not the “panacea”, the conversion of green energy to hydrogen may stabilise the fluctuations in the electricity system that are experienced with the increasing proportion of green electricity and supply consumers, particularly in industry and heavy goods mobility, with carbon-free energy. Another particular focus of our work lies in renewable energy plants, which no longer receive any subsidy under the Renewable Energy Act after 20 years, but which could often continue to generate green electricity for many years to come.
Last but not least, we look forward to holding more individual meetings and networking events in person once again, alongside all the digital offerings that our members are able to enjoy. We hope, in the second half the year, during the run-up to the parliamentary elections, to use our member events to convey a powerful message in support of an ambitious and successful sustainable energy supply!
