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The Development of Renewable Energies and Supply Security
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The Development of Renewable Energies and Supply Security

A Trade-Off Analysis

Luise Röpke
Ifo, 2012
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8

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  • Innovative

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Economist Luise Röpke studies the impact that the greening of Germany’s electrical system has on the grid’s reliability and cost. She says renewable energy confronts a “trilemma” – the interrelation of environmental impacts, network reliability and electricity prices. Using existing indexes and original calculations, Röpke unveils the significant economic and social costs of power outages. She explains why introducing renewable energy into the existing grid assures service deterioration unless Germany invests more money in its electrical grid network and she urges a re-evaluation of the entire national renewables program. Though this paper is burdened by techno-lingo and at least one Gordian knot of a data graph, getAbstract suggests that energy specialists and policy makers should read it, as should observers from other nations who seek lessons from Germany’s green experience.

Take-Aways

  • Germany is pursuing green development to cut its carbon dioxide emissions.
  • However, a realistic effort to introduce renewable energy sources must balance the “trilemma” of environmental impacts, electricity prices and supply reliability.
  • Germany expects to surpass European targets to reach a 40% greenhouse-gas reduction by 2020 and an 80% drop by 2050.

About the Author

Luise Röpke is an economist with the CESifo Group Munich. Her research focuses on energy economics, climate and resources.

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