Publikationen der Abteilung Klimapolitik

Gebäude - die stille Reserve des Klimaschutzes: Fünf Fragen an Karsten Neuhoff

Energetische Sanierung: Handlungsbedarf auf vielen Ebenen

Um Kosten, Energieimporte und CO2-Emissionen zu reduzieren, ist im Energiekonzept der Bundesregierung vorgesehen, den Wärmebedarf für Gebäude bis 2020 um 20 Prozent und den Primärenergiebedarf bis 2050 um 80 Prozent zu senken. Dazu soll der Anteil der jährlich energetisch sanierten Gebäude von 0,8 Prozent auf zwei Prozent erhöht werden. Bei zwei Prozent energetischen Sanierungen pro Jahr wird jedes ...

Öffnung des Strommarktes für erneuerbare Energien: das Netz muss besser genutzt werden

Die Öffnung des Strommarktes für erneuerbare Energien würde Flexibilität für die weitere Integration erneuerbarer Energien schaffen und zu erheblichen Einsparungen von Kosten und Emissionen führen. Dafür müssen die Strommärkte in dreierlei Hinsicht anders organisiert werden: Erstens erfolgen bisher die meisten Handelsaktivitäten - und damit auch die Produktionsentscheidungen - spätestens am Vortag ...

Heat Monitor 2024: Following the Energy Crisis, Prices for Heating Energy Sources Are Developing Very Differently

In 2024, the heating energy demand of households in Germany remained at a similar level as in 2023. Thus, the heating energy savings achieved during the energy crisis were maintained, as data from real estate service provider ista SE show. Compared to 2023, CO₂ emissions fell by three percent after adjusting for temperature. Although heating energy prices rose on average by only 6.2 percent in 2024, ...

Non-monetary Factors Were an Important Driver of Residential Energy Savings during the Energy Crisis

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 triggered an energy crisis in Germany, with consumer energy prices skyrocketing over the course of the year. Due to concerns about gas shortages, various programs aimed at reducing consumption were set up and the German Federal Government and numerous organizations appealed to consumers to save as much energy as possible. This Weekly Report investigates how much ...

Heat Monitor 2023: Despite Continued Price Increases, Lower Decline in Households’ Heating Energy Consumption

In 2023, heating energy prices increased by substantial 31 percent compared to the previous year, following a 33 percent increase already seen in 2022. Calculations based on data from the energy service provider ista show average price increases were the highest in the German state of Rhineland- Palatinate, and the lowest in Hamburg. Owing to these price hikes and ongoing energy-saving efforts, the ...

Transitioning to Net Zero: Full Potential of Sustainable Finance Taxonomies Not Yet Exhausted

Sustainable finance taxonomies such as the European Union (EU) taxonomy can support the transition to a climate-neutral economy. As a classification system, these taxonomies serve to offer transparency and guidance as to how capital flows can be shifted to sustainable and environmentally-friendly activities. In this Weekly Report, we analyze 26 sustainable taxonomies from countries and regions around ...

High-Income Households Emit More Greenhouse Gases, Primarily Due to Transport Behavior

Greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 65 percent compared to 1990 by 2030 to achieve national climate targets. Nearly one third of greenhouse gas emissions in Germany are caused by private household consumption. Using Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) data, this Weekly Report calculates the amount of CO2 equivalents emitted by households due to residential energy use, nutrition, and transport in Germany. ...

Thermal Retrofitting of Worst Performing Buildings Mitigates Risk of High Heating Costs

The pace of thermal retrofit of buildings in Germany remains slow. A Worst-First approach, prioritizing the retrofit of inefficient buildings, would address energy- and social policy objectives and deliver economic and climate benefits. Data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) show how such an approach would protect especially low-income households often living in very inefficient buildings ...

A Renewable Energy Pool Brings Benefits of Energy Transition to Consumers

German companies view high and uncertain electricity prices a major challenge. A Renewable Energy Pool (RE-Pool), wherein the favorable conditions of competitive tenders for new wind and solar power projects are passed on to electricity consumers, could hedge such price risks. Consumers’ electricity prices are thus hedged for the share of their consumption that corresponds to the RE-Pool’s generation ...