Germany records ‘strongest ever’ increase for energy-saving measures

In 2008, the German government adopted its 42-year Energiewinde strategy. As well as ensuring all energy supply sources are renewable, a comprehensive plan is being rolled out to reduce overall primary energy consumption by 50 per cent by 2050. Despite major alterations away from oil for transport fuel sources, even electricity consumption is set to drop 25 per cent by then.

In contrast, the UK Government is still projecting that UK electricity sales will double over the same period – a forecast preserved despite a drop in electricity consumption of 15.2 per cent over the past ten years.

According to the official organisation Germany Trade and Invest, the overall energy and environment sector achieved “particularly positive growth’ during 2016. Investment from the state development bank overseeing pump priming, KfW, went up from €9.3bn (£8bn) in 2015 to €10.7bn (£9.2bn). This was largely due to KfW’s energy efficiency programme where a total of €5.2bn (£4.5bn) was provided.

Growth was “very strong” in housing improvement projects, where it is estimated that in total well over €11bn was invested in energy efficient construction programmes.

Rol Compton, manager of Smart Cities at Germany Trade and Invest said:” These positive investment funding and promotion figures show that investors, businesses, communities and homeowners alike see the real added value in making buildings and processes more energy efficient”.

He added: “In Germany, energy efficiency is not merely an environmental business consideration. It creates a clear competitive advantage that can be reflected on all bottom lines.”