Even though the switch to renewable energy is financially appealing in the long run, some actors will lose money; therefore, they have a strong interest in trying to stop the Energiewende. The main problems in Germany are the car industry and the coal workers’ unions.
Switching to 100 percent renewable energy and moving towards zero greenhouse gas emissions is a complete societal shift. Germany is made a lot of progress, but it still has a long way to go. Here are some of the stumbling blocks for the Energiewende.
An Europe-wide emissions trading system (EU-ETS) puts a limit on emissions for the long term. It aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions in industry, the power sector, and most recently the aviation sector.
Backup power is not a clearly defined term. In general, it indicates that certain power plants need to be maintained on standby in case other generators fail to produce power.