Energy transition in crisis: slow down or full throttle for Germany's future?

Energy transition in crisis: slow down or full throttle for Germany's future?

The German energy transition is currently at a crucial turning point. As of August 16, 2025, opinions are divided on whether the pace of renewable energy expansion should be accelerated or slowed down. The Economics Minister, Reiche, is having an investigation into how much green electricity Germany actually needs, as the demand for electricity is continually increasing. This makes the expansion of wind power, solar energy and the reinforcement of the network infrastructure urgently necessary, as business-leaders.net reports.

As positive as the idea of ​​more green electricity is, there are also many critics. These warn of possible excessive demands and rising costs. Social resistance to the energy transition is becoming louder. Studies clearly show that slowing down the energy transition would be risky; Germany needs significantly more renewable energy than previously thought. In order to achieve the ambitious climate goals, massive expansion is essential.

The challenges of energy supply

An important aspect of the energy transition is the increasing demand for electricity, which is caused by electrification in various sectors, such as transport and industry. Network expansion is often perceived as too slow. There are no necessary lines to transport enough renewable electricity. Innovative storage technologies are also required to ensure flexibility and stability of the network.

Critical voices from business and local politics are calling for a reduction in the pace of expansion. There are concerns that further delays could cause costs to rise further. Experts from energy science and climate research emphasize that the climate protection goals can only be achieved with comprehensive expansion. An important point is planning security for investors in order to avoid an investment backlog. This is made even more difficult by lengthy approval procedures that often take years.

Future outlook and forecasts

Forecasts show that Germany will need between 650 and 750 terawatt hours of green electricity per year by 2045, while around 500 TWh is currently being produced. There is political pressure to keep energy costs stable while accelerating investment in renewable energy. The situation has raised the question: Do we slow down the energy transition or do we really accelerate?

Given the challenges and the different opinions from politics and business, the answer to this question will be crucial, not only for Germany's energy structure, but also for the achievement of climate goals and acceptance among the population. A good hand is required here, because there are far-reaching decisions to be made that will shape both the present and the future.