Germany's energy transition: making it deliver. EPC Discussion Paper, 9 October 2017

Germany has taken great pride in spearheading a shift to a greener economy. Its Energiewende (energy transition) has received international attention because of the ambitious effort to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix and some have gone as far as portraying it as a model for building a renewable future. The story, however, comes with its shades of grey. While both the vision and the objectives are commendable, the implementation has been mixed. While many of the challenges that have arisen have been acknowledged by the government, Germany's experience is an invaluable source of lessons for the country itself and the EU as a whole. The German example reminds how important it is for countries to have a comprehensive vision for a sustainable energy system from the start and an all-inclusive strategy for its achievement, which are in line with the EU objectives and implemented in coordination with other member states