Conference on Solar Energy

Enlarge image German Consul General at solar conference (© Indo-German Chamber of Commmerce) Honourable Representative of the Government of Karnataka

Distinguished Regional Director of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce,  dear Mrs. D`sousa

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my pleasure and honour to address the distinguished participants of this conference organized by the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce and the Renewables Academy and to give a few political remarks about the German path to the energy of the future. India may want to use use some of this experience for her own benefit, and by strengthening our cooperation in this area we could both win and make our energy supply more reliable, more affordable and environmentally sound.

Germany is seen as one of the most productive and economicly successful countries in the world. This would not be possible without a sustainable supply of energy for our businesses. We want our energy system to strengthen our economic base, give important impetus to innovation and technological progress, preserve the natural foundations of life and help protect our climate. We do not want Germany to be dependent on electricity imports, we want to be able to generate our net demand ourselves.

Germany is about to drastically revamp its energy supply. For this purpose, in June 2011 the Federal government adopted the key elements for a faster transformation of the energy system. Due to a dramatically changed risk perception after the catastrophe of Fukushima electricity generation in nuclear power plants will be phased out by the end of 2022. This is a landmark decision for entering the age of renewable energy. The thorough revamping of energy supply in Germany is a task for future decades, and is thus above all an opportunity for future generations.

Germany, however, had taken the fundamental decision to cover the future energy supply from renewable sources even before Fukushima. In autumn 2010 the Federal government adopted the Energy Concept, which paved the way for the age of renewable energies. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made it clear that the aim of the Energy Concept is to make our energy supply the most efficient and environmentally friendly in the world. Ambitious climate protection remains a decisive driving force for the transformation of our energy supply.

The German Energy Concept outlines the road towards the age of renewables we are striving to achieve. Along this road, we must reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2020 and by at least 80 percent by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. Germany can only accomplish these ambitious targets if we massively increase energy efficiency and switch our energy supply to renewables.

Targets for the expansion of renewable energies in the electricity sector are a 35 percent share in 2020 and an 80 percent share in 2050. This requires a radical transformation of our electricity system. In the first half of 2011, renewable energies were able to increase their share in electricity consumption from 17% to over 20%. This shows that our objective of a further increase to at least 35% by 2020 is feasible. In the future wind energy will play a key role role in electricity generation. This calls for a massive expansion of onshore and offshore wind power capacity. Germany will also expand its capacity of photovoltaic systems and maintain its role of the world’s “photovoltaic champion” But Germany will also aim for a 10% reduction in electricity consumption by 2020.

Germany is a pioneer on the path towards the energy supply of the future. The German focus is on innovation and advanced technologies, on effective and cost-efficient measures, and on pursuing a policy that is environmentally sound, climate-friendly and in line with market and competition principles. The significance of renewable energies as an economic factor continues to grow.

With respect to renewable energy production, companies in Germany are at the forefront. German wind power generators account for 40 per cent of the world market. The German proportion of the world market in photovoltaics is 25 per cent. The market share will increase even more if it becomes possible to manufacture silicon wafers more cost-effectively.

Germany and India have already established an intense policy dialogue on Energy. In 2006 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chancellor Angela Merkel set up the Indo-German Energy Forum. It not only recognises the crucial role energy plays for the two countries, but also the potential for cooperation, be it in efficient thermal power generation or renewable energies. An important focus of this year’s first ever German-Indian government consultations in Delhi was a sustainable, affordable, safe and reliable energy supply. Both countries agree that expanding the use of renewables and boosting energy efficiency  will contribute to this important goal and help slow climate change. As members of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), our  countries also cooperate internationally to promote the  transition to a sustainable and secure energy supply.

I wish that this conference on solar energy will intensify the cooperation between India and Germany in the field of renewables by opening business opportunities for German companies and firms from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Both Union states have high potential for using solar energy. German companies have the cutting-edge technologies and products to utilize this potential with their Indian partners. An outstanding example for Indo-German cooperation in solar energy is the photovoltaic lab of the German company TÜV Rheinland here in Bangalore. Let’s work together for vital and sound investments in renewable energies and for our common future.

Thank you for your kind attention!