Isra-Mart srl : E.ON backs Germany's ambitious renewable energy plan

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Germany's ambitious plans to source 60 per cent of the country's power from renewable sources by 2050 have been backed by the head of E.ON, the country's largest energy provider.

The German cabinet approved the targets yesterday, formally adopting a wide-ranging plan that also aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent, renovate power grids and improve energy efficiency.

However, the new strategy also features a controversial commitment to extend the life of Germany's nuclear power plants as a bridge technology, reversing former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's pledge to turn them off by 2021.

Germany already generates 16 per cent of its energy from renewables, boasting significant amounts of onshore wind and hydropower capacity, as well as growing levels of biomass and solar photovoltaic power.

Chancellor Angela Merkel called the targets ambitious but achievable, telling reporters that Germany had a responsibility to build on its strong track record as a pioneer of renewable energy. "If we don't lead the way, we won't be able to convince other countries to take responsibility as well," she said.

Merkel's comments were echoed by Johannes Teyssen, chairman of E.ON's board of management, who hailed the plan as the greenest in Germany's history.

He said that the new plan could be achieved, but only with broad political support and a willingness to fast track low-carbon projects.

"So far, we have more projects that have been prevented than implemented," he said. "If this trend continues, we will not succeed in transforming our energy system and achieving a low-carbon tomorrow. We need the courage to accept new solutions and new and innovative technologies."

Teyssen pointed out that his company was willing to do its part by tripling the share of renewable energy in its power generation portfolio by 2030, as well as halving the carbon dioxide emissions from its power plants compared with 1990 levels.

E.ON owns a range of wind, solar and biogas projects across Germany and the rest of Europe, including a share of the 1,000MW London Array wind farm project, scheduled to come online in 2012

But he cautioned that the rest of the country must be prepared to make significant investments if it was to reshape its energy sector without losing jobs abroad.

"Changing our energy model will not take place automatically and it will not be free of charge," he stressed. "In addition, the energy transformation must not lead to a relocation of jobs and production away from Germany. Many people envy us for our strong industrial and commercial base that includes large industrial organisations and strong medium-sized companies. Energy efficiency must not be achieved by allowing these companies to leave Germany."

The German renewable energy targets come hot on the heels of the Northern Ireland Assembly's ambition to meet 40 per cent of demand with renewable electricity by 2050 and Alex Salmond's claims that by 2025 Scotland could power itself using solely renewable sources.