Energy

Energy

The climate crisis threatens the very foundation of modern society. To avert it, the global economy needs to fully decarbonize within a generation. In this formidable challenge, energy consumption takes center stage as power plants, vehicles, and buildings generate the majority of EU emissions. Mature low-carbon technologies and practices exist, but they require new regulation and incentives to be scaled up successfully. Ecologic Institute's research focuses on building a framework for energy sector decarbonization.

Using its skills in legal, economic, and indicator-based analysis, the energy team assesses and designs effective energy policies at all government levels. To this end, we regularly debate solutions with relevant practitioners and stakeholders. A central research area is EU energy regulation and its interaction with the German energy transition.

The team's expertise includes renewable energy and efficiency, electricity market design, the coal exit, and sector coupling, i.e. at the interface between power, transport, and heating. Our legal work focuses on EU energy law and its transposition into national law and the legal challenges arising from digitalization.

Capacity building and education on the energy transition is another cornerstone of our work. Only with a wider understanding of the need for change and its implications for each single household will countries succeed in transforming their energy sectors.

In interdisciplinary projects, the energy team also studies nexus issues, including on questions related the resource needs of the energy transition or interlinkages between energy measures and needs to adapt to climate change.

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Economics

Energy

Trade

Climate

Evaluation

Finance

Education

Benjamin Görlach
Head, Economics and Policy Assessment
Senior Fellow

Environmental Law – Ecologic Legal

Energy

Climate

Digitalization

Education

Plastics

Dr. Stephan Sina
Senior Fellow
Coordinating In-house Counsel

Energy

Climate

Mobility

Governance

Evaluation

Education

Katharina Umpfenbach
Coordinator Energy
Senior Fellow
Selected Projects for Energy
ProjectElectricityNeighbours – Can tenants in Berlin's apartment buildings become prosumers through solar power projects and sector coupling?
 

Photo by Istvan Hernek on Unsplash

Photovoltaic technology is a key lever for decarbonising Berlin's power consumption and for social participation in the transformation process, especially for tenants. Therefore, solar energy and projects on rental apartment blocks are key elements of the Berlin Senate... Read more

ElectricityNeighbours – Can tenants in Berlin's apartment buildings become prosumers through solar power projects and sector coupling?

Duration
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Funding
ProjectAccompanying Projects: Smart Energy Showcases – Digital Agenda for the Energy Transition (SINTEG)
 
In the research programme "Smart Energy Showcases - Digital Agenda for the Energy Transition" (SINTEG), over 300 research institutions and companies in five model regions are developing new solutions for a completely renewable energy system. Ecologic Institute is part... Read more

Accompanying Projects: Smart Energy Showcases – Digital Agenda for the Energy Transition (SINTEG)

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ProjectNew Approaches to Sustainable Mobility in Lower Saxony (WenaMoNi)
 
Mabel Amber | Pixabay.com
Without a thorough transformation in the transport sector, the energy transition will not succeed. On the one hand, emissions caused by mobility must be significantly reduced. On the other hand, the two sectors of transport and energy need to be linked. Lower Saxony,... Read more

New Approaches to Sustainable Mobility in Lower Saxony (WenaMoNi)

Duration
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ProjectIntegrated Approaches for the Renovation and Modernisation of the Built Environment
 
©lucadp|Fotolia.com
Addressing energy consumption and related GHG emissions from buildings constitute a major challenge in the light of the climate crisis. At the same time, the interplay of building policies with other policy areas comes into focus with sector coupling, digitalization but... Read more

Integrated Approaches for the Renovation and Modernisation of the Built Environment

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ProjectSupport to the Expert Commission on the "Energy of the Future" Monitoring Process
 
Wikimedia © Christoffer Riemer
The decarbonization of the German energy system, the so-called German "Energiewende," was officially adopted with the introduction of the "Energy Concept" of September 2010 and the energy policy decisions of June 2011. These decisions foresee the development of a highly... Read more

Support to the Expert Commission on the "Energy of the Future" Monitoring Process

Duration
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ProjectBig Picture of the European Clean Energy Transition in 2030
 
|Fotolia © Chungking
Europe's energy sector transformation is now well on its way. Yet, to reach the EU's ambitious decarbonisation target for 2050, more fundamental changes will be required in the energy and transport system after 2020. To provide a solid basis for decision-makers, the... Read more

Big Picture of the European Clean Energy Transition in 2030

Duration
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ProjectScientific Support for the Commission on Growth, Structural Change and Employment
 
From June 2018 to the end of January 2019, the Commission on "Growth, Structural Change and Employment" met as an independent body comprised of covering a broad cross-section of social, political and economic actors. As per its mandate from the German Federal Government... Read more

Scientific Support for the Commission on Growth, Structural Change and Employment

Duration
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ProjectAnalysis and Structuring of the Comprehensive Energy Law for the Electricity Sector
 
| Fotolia © PixMedia
The increased importance of renewable energy for the electricity sector in the context of the energy transition ("Energiewende") requires that the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) be made more consistent with the Energy Act (EnWG). On behalf of the Federal Ministry for... Read more

Analysis and Structuring of the Comprehensive Energy Law for the Electricity Sector

Duration
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ProjectTechnical Requirements for Producers and Consumers in an Electricity System with a Large Share of Renewable Energy
 
| Fotolia © tomas
The pending transformation of the German and European electricity system resulting from rising shares of renewable energy is triggering new technical requirements for both electricity producers and consumers. These requirements include "network codes", bodies of... Read more

Technical Requirements for Producers and Consumers in an Electricity System with a Large Share of Renewable Energy

Duration
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ProjectTransformation to Climate Resilient and Resource-conserving Infrastructure (TRAFIS)
 
| Fotolia © thomas haltinner
The TRAFIS project investigates the development of climate resilient and resource-conserving infrastructures through the lens of transition and action research. The project focuses primarily on interlinked infrastructures. Infrastructure and infrastructure systems... Read more

Transformation to Climate Resilient and Resource-conserving Infrastructure (TRAFIS)

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ProjectThe Energy Transition in Germany Explained – Study Tours for International Journalists
 
Between September and December 2016, Ecologic Institute, the International Journalist Programme (IJP) and Clean Energy Wire (CLEW) collaboratively organized five study tours on the German energy transition for journalists from North and Latin America, Africa and Asia.... Read more

The Energy Transition in Germany Explained – Study Tours for International Journalists

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All projects on Energy
Selected Publications for Energy
PublicationReportPhasing Out Coal in Chile and Germany
 
Cover "Phasing out Coal in Chile and Germany"

© GIZ

Both Germany and Chile have decided to phase out coal, not only to achieve their climate targets, but also to modernise their electricity sector. In this publication, the experiences of both countries are analysed and contrasted in order to distill lessons for... Read more

Hauser, Philipp; Benjamin Görlach, Katharina Umpfenbach et. al. 2021: Phasing Out Coal in Chile and Germany. A Comparative Analysis. Agora Energiewende: Berlin.

PublicationReportNeueWege – Wege zur nachhaltigen Mobilität in Niedersachsen
 
publication's cover

© DLR, Ecologic Institute

For Germany to reach itsclimate targets, new ways of thinking mobility are essential. The federal state of Lower Saxony is confronted with significant challenges in its mobility transition due to the important role cars play in the region. Thus, the switch to renewable... Read more

Anderson, John et. al. 2021: NeueWege Wege zur nachhaltigen Mobilität in Niedersachsen. Fachgutachten. DLR, Ecologic Institute: Berlin.

PublicationReportStromNachbarn: Evaluation der sozialen und ökologischen Wirkungen von Mieterstromanlagen in Berlin
 
stromnachbarn

Ecornet

Tenant electricity systems generate solar power on apartment buildings and deliver it directly to the households in the building. In a new study, Katharina Umpfenbach and Ricarda Faber evaluate the effects of the existing tenant electricity systems in Berlin. The bottom... Read more

Umpfenbach, K., Faber, R. (2021). StromNachbarn: Evaluation der sozialen und ökologischen Wirkungen von Mieterstromanlagen in Berlin, Berlin: Ecornet Berlin.

PublicationReportA "Fit for 55" Package Based on Environmental Integrity and Solidarity
 
Publication's cover

© Agora Energiewende

The EU has raised its climate target for 2030 to at least -55 % and is now debating how to reform its climate policy architecture so that it can reach it. In a new study, Agora Energiewende and Ecologic Institute sketch a "Fit for 55" package that can ensure both... Read more

Agora Energiewende and Ecologic Institute (2021): A "Fit for 55" package based on environmental integrity and solidarity: Designing an EU climate policy architecture for ETS and effort sharing to deliver 55% lower GHG emissions by 2030, Berlin: Agora Energiewende.

PublicationPolicy BriefAnalysing the Impact Assessment on Raising the EU 2030 Climate Target
 
Cover publication AIA EU 2030

Ecologic Institute

On 17 September 2020, the European Commission proposed to raise the EU climate target for 2030, so as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% compared to 1990. In this policy brief, CLIMACT and Ecologic Institute unpack the Commission's impact assessment for the new... Read more

Climact, Ecologic Institute (2020): Analysing the impact assessment on raIsing the EU 2030 climate target - How does the European Commission’s approach compare with other existing studies?

PublicationDocumentKonzeptionelle Überlegungen zum Anlagenbegriff des EEG
 
publication's cover

© Ecologic Institute

As part of a project to structure the energy law, Ecologic Institute contributed to a discussion paper on conceptual considerations on the concept of plant in the Renewable Energy Act . Based on the functions of the term "plant", the authors recommend a new... Read more

Hartmut Kahl; Wieland Lehnert; Martin Altrock; Stephan Sina 2020: Diskussionspapier: Konzeptionelle Überlegungen zum Anlagenbegriff des EEG. https://stiftung-umweltenergierecht.de/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/%C3%9CE_Anlagenbegriff-EEG.pdf

PublicationBookSustainable Development in the European Union – 2020
 
This publication is the fourth of Eurostat’s regular reports monitoring progress towards the SDGs in an EU context. The analysis in this publication builds on the EU SDG indicator set, developed in cooperation with a large number of stakeholders. The indicator set... Read more

Bley, Simon Johannes, et al. (ed.) 2020: Sustainable Development in the European Union. Monitoring Report on Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context. [eurostat Statistical books 2020 edition]. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

PublicationReportMeasures for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles
 
The introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) is one way to significantly reduce emissions from cars — if combined with a transition to a renewable electricity system — thus helping countries meet their climate and air quality goals. Numerous governments around the world... Read more

Velten, Eike Karola, Stoll, Theresa; Meinecke, Lisa (2019): Measures for the promotion of electric vehicles. Ecologic Institute, Berlin. Commissioned by Greenpeace e.V.

PublicationPolicy BriefPlanning for Net-zero: Assessing the Draft National Energy and Climate Plans
 
A report by Ecologic Institute and Climact shows that the draft National Energy and Climate Plans presented by governments at the start of 2019 are in acute need of improvement. They suffer from inadequate targets and insufficient details on the policies and financing... Read more

Duwe, Matthias; Eike Karola Velten, Nick Evans, Mona Freundt, Julien Pestiaux, Benoît Martin, Pascal Vermeulen (2019): Planning for net-zero: Assessing the Draft National Energy and Climate Plans. Berlin, Louvain-la-Neuve, Bruessels.

PublicationBookPhasing out Coal in the German Energy Sector
 
In January 2019, Germany made a big step towards a coal phase-out: A stakeholder commission established by the federal government agreed on a schedule for plant retirement and on measures to support coal regions. For experts and journalists seeking to understand the... Read more

German Institute for Economic Research, Wuppertal Institute, Ecologic Institute (eds.) 2019: Phasing out Coal in the German Energy Sector. Interdependencies, Challenges and Potential Solutions.

PublicationReportAlte Energiewelt – Neue Energiewelt
 
Which trends and developments characterise the energy system in the overlapping phases of change of the energy transition? Which opportunities and also which risks are borne by digital technologies and data-based business models in view of an ecologically oriented... Read more

Lucha, Christine and Lisa Meinecke 2019: Alte Energiewelt – Neue Energiewelt. Trends und Akteure in einem zunehmend digitalen Energiesystem. böll.brief GRÜNE ORDNUNGSPOLITIK #9. Berlin: Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0

PublicationBook SectionSmarter, Greener, more Inclusive? – 2019
 
On 7 October 2019, Eurostat published its most recent flagship publication "Smarter, greener, more inclusive?". The report assesses the EU's progress in implementing the Europe 2020 strategy. Commissioned by Eurostat, Katharina Umpfenbach and Amely Gundlach of Ecologic... Read more

Anna Sabadash et al. 2019: Smarter, greener, more inclusive? – Indicators to support the Europe 2020 strategy. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

PublicationReportDie Energiewende als europäisches Projekt
 
In challenging times, the EU is discussing how to reform its energy and climate policy for the period after 2020. The short study "Energiewende as a European project" looks at the negotiations on the Clean Energy package from a German perspective. Katharina Umpfenbach... Read more

Umpfenbach, Katharina (2017): Die Energiewende als europäisches Projekt. Chancen, Reibungspunkte [Energy transition as a European project]. Study commissioned by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Berlin: Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.

All publications on Energy
Selected Events for Energy
EventDigital EventWhat Role do Tenants Play in the Energy Transition in Berlin?
 

© Ecologic Institute

On 30 April 2021 at the online Berliner ENERGIETAGE, the research network Ecornet Berlin presented how tenants can benefit from the energy transition. Members of the research network provided three expert inputs on: "Energy poverty in Berlin" (IÖW) "The impacts... Read more

Digital Event:What Role do Tenants Play in the Energy Transition in Berlin?

Date
Location
Berlin, Germany
EventConferenceBusiness Mitigates Climate Change – Final Event of the Dialogue Forum
 
Bundesumweltministerin Svenja Schulze | Foto: Stefan Röhl
The final event of the dialogue forum "Wirtschaft macht Klimaschutz" took place on 11 March 2020 at the Turbinenhalle in Berlin. Over the past two years, representatives from more than 100 companies have jointly developed ideas, projects and concrete steps to promote... Read more

Conference:Business Mitigates Climate Change – Final Event of the Dialogue Forum

Date
Location
Berlin, Germany
EventDiscussionEU Reform Process after the European Elections: What role for climate and energy policy?
 
In response to Brexit, the EU has initiated a process of self-reflection and, if necessary, reform - the so-called Bratislava Process or the Process of the Future of Europe. As a contribution to this process, the Ecologic Institute explored with different partners how... Read more

Discussion:EU Reform Process after the European Elections: What role for climate and energy policy?

Date
Location
Berlin, Germany
EventConferencePlanning for 2050 – Conference
 
The conference "Planning for 2050", organised by Ecologic Institute, will take place on 23 May 2019 in Brussels. It takes stock of the experience with long-term climate strategies gained in Europe and presents lessons learnt as well as challenges encountered in... Read more

Conference:Planning for 2050 – Conference

Date
Location
Brussels, Belgium
EventVisitors ProgramHands-on the Future of Energy with the EFEX Study Tour 2019
 
From 22 to 28 September 2019, the Energy Future Exchange (EFEX) Program invites civil society leaders from the EU and US to join the EFEX Study Tour and experience the Future of Energy. The EFEX tour itinerary includes meetings and site visits in Belgium and the... Read more

Visitors Program:Hands-on the Future of Energy with the EFEX Study Tour 2019

Date
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Location
Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam | Belgium, Netherlands
All events on Energy
Selected Presentations for Energy
PresentationLectureLegal Aspects of Big Data in the Energy Sector – Summer School Lecture
 
© Christos Georghiou | Fotolia.com
Ecologic Institute was asked by IASS to give a lecture on "Legal aspects of big data in the energy sector" at the ENavi Summer School 2019 on Digitalisation in the Energy Transition. Its participants consisted of persons with a strong interest in... Read more

Lecture:Legal Aspects of Big Data in the Energy Sector – Summer School Lecture

Date
Location
Potsdam, Germany
All presentations on Energy