Solar panels on a rooftop.
Funding

Solar energy can be stored

When the mid-day sun shines brightly, the solar installations get busy feeding electricity into the grid. But what if the grid can hardly cope at times of peak production? The re-launch of the battery-storage programme is good news for the grids and provides funding for more solar power to be stored.

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Illustration: Erneuerbare Energien, Stromnetz und Fabrikgebäude unter einer Lupe

direct account

What exactly is energy-efficiency contracting?

Two parties agree that they want to team up and do something to improve energy efficiency. And they both benefit. That's what energy-efficiency contracting is about. But how exactly does it work? And how can I get involved?

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Dr. Florian Bieberbach, Vorsitzender der Geschäftsführung der Stadtwerke München, sowie Ortwin Wiebecke, Sprecher der Geschäftsführung der Stadtwerke Tübingen.

controversial

Auctions for power from renewables. Do they make sense for municipal utilities?

Read two answers to this question, one by Dr Florian Bieberbach, CEO of Stadtwerke München (Munich municipal utilities), and the other by Ortwin Wiebecke, spokesman of the board of Stadtwerke Tübingen (Tübingen municipal utilities).

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In a recent study conducted by the German Energy Agency, three in four car buyers interviewed said that the fuel-efficiency label for passenger cars had played an 'important' or even 'very important' role in their decision for a new car.

direct view

What car buyers need to know

How much fuel does this car use? How much carbon does it emit? These are questions asked by a growing share of prospective car buyers in Germany. In a recent study conducted by the German Energy Agency, three in four car buyers interviewed said that the fuel-efficiency label for passenger cars had played an 'important' or even 'very important' role in their decision for a new car.

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Full-size energy efficiency: a picture showing the interior of the ETA factory and a typical process chain used in manufacturing.
Research

Networking for greater efficiency

This is a place where even the concrete used in the facade is high-tech. The model factory for the future, which receives funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, is set up in such a way that the equipment, processes, and even the building itself are all part of the same smart network.

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Matthias Zelinger, spokesman on energy policy for the the German Engineering Federation (VDMA)

Quote of the week

"Off-the-peg solutions rarely do the trick when it comes to improving energy-efficiency levels in the industrial sector. This is why VDMA, the German Engineering Federation supports the Energy Efficiency Networks Initiative. Our members use these networks to learn from one another and to become more energy-efficient. As the engineering sector is not only a user but also a supplier of efficiency technology, this also means that we help create expertise that can form the basis for further innovation."

Matthias Zelinger, spokesman on energy policy for the the German Engineering Federation (VDMA)

direct reports

Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue on 17 and 18 March

The Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy will be joined by leading energy experts from across the world next week for the Second Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue. Find out more

No let-up in China's interest in Germany's energy transition

Vice Minister Zheng at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy: The Vice Minister met with State Secretary Rainer Baake to discuss various points including possible ways of rendering conventional power plants more flexible and how to ensure that the power grids can cope with growing shares of renewables. Find out more

In cinemas now: Power to change – the EnergyRebellion

The energy transition takes to the big screen. The film "Power to change - the EnergyRebellion" will be released in selected cinemas on Thursday, 17 March. The film highlights the work of pioneers of the expansion of renewable energy. Find out more

Register now for the Berlin Energy Days

This year's Berlin Energy Days – one of the main events associated with Germany's energy transition – will be held from 11 to 13 April. Registration is now open. Find out more

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