direct view

Who’s making the most out of the wind?

25,980 – that was the number of wind turbines in operation in Germany at the end of 2015 – just counting those on land. That is 1,115 more than the year before. The installed capacity in Germany amounted to 41,652 MW. The top-ranking states: Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg.

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direct account

What is actually the reference yield model?

How can onshore wind energy be funded without blowing away the motivation to build efficient installations at less windy sites? By putting equivalent competitive conditions for funding in place from the Baltic in the north to the Zugspitze in the south. And that is what the reference yield model is designed to do.

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Europe

Safeguarding supply, improving energy efficiency: the winter package is on the table

A package of proposals by the European Commission aims to boost energy security in Europe. The "winter package" contains key steps towards making a success of the European energy transition.

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Research

Setting new records: getting more out of the sun

Generating more electricity from the same amount of sunlight without higher production costs – that is one of the key aims of research and development in the field of photovoltaics. Two projects funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy have come a little closer to this goal.

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Special offer

Mission E at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

How can we cut our energy consumption, both in the office and at home? That was the main question during the energy efficiency week held from 15-19 February in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Lights out, screen off, main switch off – such simple measures can achieve a great deal – and set a good example.

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Carsten Körnig, BSW

Quote of the week

“Global demand for PV technology just keeps growing. Germany can benefit from the growth of this forward-looking market with next-generation solar power systems. The close cooperation between PV manufacturers, equipment suppliers and cutting-edge researchers in a unique solar cluster offers us an advantage in the face of the tough international competition.”

Carsten Körnig, Managing Director of the German Solar Association

direct reports

  • Minister Gabriel and Israel’s Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz agree on closer cooperation

    Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Sigmar Gabriel says: “I am pleased that Israel is also making efforts to create a sustainable basis for its energy supply by expanding its renewable energies and improving energy efficiency. We are offering our help and advice to Israel in view of our wealth of experience with the German energy transition.”

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