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Germany’s renewable energy cooperatives
Throughout Germany, citizens’ cooperatives have developed renewable energy installations, taking a direct role in the country’s clean energy transition. One of the main benefits of community ownership models is that citizens can invest in local facilities where the cost for an individual might be too high. Such models can also include municipalities and companies as participants. A 2018 study found that citizens’ energy ownership amounted to 42% in 2016 (31.5% owned by private individuals and 10.5% by farmers). In that year, there were over 1 000 energy cooperatives across the country. While the shift in remuneration for…
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Germany’s closure of hard coal mines in the Ruhr and Saar regions
…the government pursued a regionalised structural policy that provided opportunities and inputs from local stakeholders. Following a 2007 decision to end all hard coal subsidies in 2018, an agreement was signed between state and federal governments, trade unions and coal companies to ensure a just transition away from coal in the area and a socially acceptable adjustment process. The implementation of social compatibility took place through measures such as voluntary wage reductions, early retirement, relocation of some workers, retraining, redeployment with decent pay, and large public investments to underpin economic diversification. The last coal mine in Germany closed in 2018.
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Germany’s Commission on Growth, Structural Change and Employment
As part of its efforts to halve energy-related CO2 emissions by 2030, Germany intends to phase out coal-based power. To reach a broad social consensus on the coal phase-out plan, the federal government established a Commission on Growth, Structural Change and Employment (also known as the Coal Commission) in June 2018. It brought together representatives of environmental associations, scientists, trade unions, economic and energy associations, and representatives from the affected regions. Commission members met with coal mining regions to receive grassroots inputs on the challenges and opportunities in each area. In addition to recommendations on the pace…
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Germany's Renewables Energy Act
As of 14 December 2020, Germany's ruling coalition agreed modifications to its energy law to create the legal basis for continuing the expansion of renewable energy in the long term and help the country meet its goal of producing 65% of its electricity from clean sources from 2030. The law came into force as of 1 January 2021. It seeks to help ensure that both electricity supply and electricity consumption become carbon-neutral before 2050. To this end, the law specifies the pace at which sustainable energy such as wind and photovoltaics are to be expanded over the next…
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State of Energy Policy 2026 Government energy spending
…mechanisms, with more than ten countries launching capacity auctions for solar PV and wind over the past five years. Notably, China reduced its renewables subsidies and phased out feed-in tariffs for new projects in 2025. Similarly, Germany’s corresponding budget position was paused in 2022 and 2023 due to high electricity prices, and the United States enacted legislation in July 2025 to end its solar and wind tax credits for new projects starting in 2026. In contrast, the United Kingdom allocated an all-time high allocation to the Low Carbon Contracts Company, managing the contract-for-difference in the country…
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Global Energy Review 2026 Technology: Solar PV and wind
…GW installed. Germany added 17 GW, accounting for one‑quarter of total EU solar PV additions. Spain hit a record 14 GW of solar PV additions, up 50% from 2024 and accounting for one‑fifth of the EU total. Several other countries, including France, Lithuania and Romania, also set new records. Onshore wind capacity additions rose to about 13 GW in the European Union. Offshore wind additions, however, fell to just 1 GW, down from 1.7 GW in 2024, with only France and Germany installing new capacity.India’s annual renewable capacity additions increased by almost 60% in 2025, the fastest…
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Global Hydrogen Review 2026 Trade and infrastructure
…milestones in 2025, as China began construction of the world’s longest hydrogen pipeline, and Germany completed the world’s longest repurposing of a natural gas pipeline.Announced underground hydrogen storage projects could provide 11 TWh of capacity by 2035 (335 kt H₂), but just over 7% has reached final investment decision (FID) or is under construction, equivalent to 0.6% of the estimated throughput from committed low-emissions hydrogen projects. Large-scale salt caverns are in construction in the United States, Germany and China.Around 170 ammonia and 130 methanol port terminals are in operation. Ammonia leads among announced projects, but more methanol…
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Global Hydrogen Review 2026 Policy
…USD 1.1 billion, aiming to diversify hydrogen uses beyond cars and introducing targets for an end-use hydrogen price of USD 3.6/kg, striving for USD 2.2/kg and 100 000 FCEVs by 2030.Japan had selected six winners of its contracts for difference scheme as of late May 2026, adding up to nearly 130 kt of low-emissions hydrogen. Two of these support ammonia imports for the power sector. Germany agreed targets for its hydrogen-capable gas turbine fleet with the European Commission.On supply, renewable hydrogen has the most widespread support across countries. However, project cancellations, particularly in Europe, have reduced…
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Global EV Outlook 2025 Trends in heavy-duty electric vehicles
…United Kingdom continues to have the largest number of sales in Europe, accounting for around 20% of the region’s sales in 2024, with a year-on-year growth of over 40% and almost 2 000 electric buses sold in 2024. Italy follows, with almost 1 200 sales, and then Germany with almost 900. Sales were predominantly for city buses, for which ten European countries had battery electric sales shares above 80%, meaning almost half of all new city buses were battery electric in 2024, up from just over 35% in 2023. Uptake of electric buses in the United States has not been linear…
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Global EV Outlook 2025 Trends in electric car affordability
…decline in the battery pack price. Similarly, in the United States, a 15% decline in battery prices contributed to a 3% drop in the average purchase price of electric SUVs in 2024. In contrast, in Germany, the price of electric SUVs slightly increased in 2024, despite their battery pack prices declining 20%. This suggests that the battery pack price is not the only factor influencing EV prices: other component manufacturing costs, trim levels and carmakers’ pricing strategies also play a significant role. Availability of a wide range of affordable EV models will be key to unlocking mass-market adoption. In 2024…