Germany: The Ambiguity of Energiewende

Germany was one of the first industrial states which decided to transition from a fossil fuel-based to a carbon-free energy system while uniquely choosing to concurrently denuclearize its energy system. Observed in many countries all over the world, the reaction is divided to the German “Energiewende” (energy transition). On the one hand, other countries admire the basic idea and the progress of the Energiewende; however, major problems conducting the Energiewende discourage other countries from emulating the model. From the experience of developing policies implementing Energiewende, policymakers learned that wide public participation and negotiations with stakeholders were key to the success of the process. Those components increased the effectiveness, public acceptance, and legitimacy of the resulting policies.