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Expert commission reports on the state of the energy transition

Where does the energy transition in Germany stand? What measures have been taken and are they working? What are the challenges? An independent expert report to assess the progress made on the energy transition, complete with the latest data and facts.

And quite a lot is going on! The report, which was published in late June 2024, notably covers electricity, the heat supply, energy security and security of supply, and the issue of costs. It also contains information on emissions, environmental compatibility and the level of public acceptance for the energy transition. With this report, the expert commission offers a facts-based overview on the state of implementation of the energy transition and also looks at areas where additional efforts are needed. This is an important prerequisite for a well-informed and transparent debate.

^{New dynamism in the expansion of renewables confirmed}

The report by the independent Expert Commission on Energy Transition Monitoring confirms that there is a positive trend with regard to the expansion of renewables. 2023 was the first year in which Germany saw more than half of its gross electricity consumption covered by renewables. This trend is continuing: “In 2024, the share of renewables has increased to well over 55%.” This has been achieved without compromising the high levels of energy security and of quality of electricity and gas.

^{Expert commission: the energy transition will not happen by itself}

In its report, the Expert Commission on Energy Transition Monitoring stresses the challenges ahead. It says that it is not easy to achieve a secure and low-cost energy supply and meet the climate targets at the same time. Hydrogen, in particular, is being highlighted in the report as a key source of energy for the future. According to the report, further efforts have to be made on the expansion of the electricity and hydrogen networks and on the creation of the right framework. The decision to establish a hydrogen network in Germany, it says, creates an important basis. The commission is made up of Prof. Dr Andreas Löschel, Prof. Dr Veronika Grimm, Prof. Dr Anke Weidlich and Dr Felix Matthes. Its report is an analysis of the situation in 2022 and draws on current data (up to 2024).