The Federal Audit Office is taking an unusually harsh stance against the federal government over its work on the “generational energy transition project”. Germany is pursuing “very ambitious goals” here, the auditors wrote in a special report published on Thursday. However, the project is “not on track” and the government is “lagging behind its goals”. An immediate reaction is therefore necessary “to ensure a safe, affordable and environmentally friendly power supply.” The President of the Federal Audit Office, Kay Scheller, warned: “Failure would have serious consequences, because the success of the energy transition is central to its acceptance by the population, Germany as a business location and the achievement of climate protection goals.”
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The planned transformation aims “at a fundamental change in the energy supply in Germany to renewable energies and more energy efficiency,” write the household experts on the almost 60 pages. But they currently see the secure supply of comparatively expensive electricity at risk. Generation from photovoltaics and wind systems is subject to fluctuations and “dark lulls”, “so that supply gaps can occur”. Therefore, the addition of sufficient, secure, controllable backup capacities by 2030 is of central importance. However, this will not be possible with the government's power plant strategy aimed at 2026, as the ten large gas power plants that can be converted to hydrogen are not sufficient.
In addition, a significant expansion of the electricity grid is necessary, complains the Court of Auditors. The gap behind the planning is now “seven years and 6,000 km”. Furthermore, in a test report for the years 2025 to 2031, the Federal Network Agency only considers the desired scenario, according to which the expansion goals will certainly be achieved. The regulatory authority should actually establish an early warning system here. The government also does not clearly state the “system costs of the energy transition”. The expansion of renewables also has negative effects on the environment: “Scarce areas and resources are being used and biodiversity is being impaired.” The executive leaves out such factors.
Energy suppliers and the traffic lights don't want to wear the same shoe
The auditors already believe it is foreseeable that the ambitious goals for expanding renewables will not be achieved. In 2023, the network agency only allocated 50 percent of the targeted volume for onshore wind turbines: instead of 12.84 gigawatts (GW), only 6.38 GW. Theoretically, it would now have to award 16.46 GW in 2024, which is not realistic. At the same time, gross electricity consumption will increase significantly in the next few years. The government must therefore include a “worst case scenario” and ensure the expansion of renewable and controllable power plant output that can be accessed at any time.
Despite justified individual points, the Court of Auditors “overshoots the mark with its general criticism,” replied Kerstin Andreae, head of the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW). “Progress in the energy transition is certainly visible.” The conditions for the expansion of photovoltaic and wind systems have improved significantly. There is no discernible “supply gap”. The government still needs to pick up the pace to enable the construction of hydrogen-capable gas power plants. Robert Habeck (Greens), Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, described the energy transition as an ongoing, far from completed initiative. Overall, the Court of Auditors shows an “astonishing perception” that “has nothing to do with reality.” The traffic light implements what has been neglected for decades.
(mki)