The Federal Environment Agency explores the conversion to a 100% renewable energies power supply in three basic scenarios. The study now published is based on the ‘region´s network’ scenario, in which all the regions in Germany largely tap their potentials to use renewable energies and a country-wide electricity conversion results. Only a very small share of electricity would then need to be imported from neighbouring countries. The calculations needed were carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology (IWES) on behalf of ⁠UBA⁠. The researchers at IWES modeled this scenario for four seasons and according to hours. UBA President Jochen Flasbarth says, “The results of the study demonstrate that electricity supply can be generated completely from renewable energies by 2050 and that secure supply can be guaranteed at all times.” The various means to generate power from renewable energies, storage, and load management are explored in more explicit detail in the region’s network scenario, showing that fluctuations that may occur in supply of renewable energies can be safely compensated at all times. According to UBA, the power supply switch requires that renewable energies, networks and storage systems be expanded large-scale. Furthermore, the means to save electricity must also be used to the fullest extent.

The insulation of buildings must be greatly improved so as not to consume too much power to supply their heating. Load management potentials must also be developed in order to better adapt demand for electricity to fluctuating supply, especially from wind and solar energy.

Electricity supply is responsible for about 40% of Germany’s total energy-related CO₂ emissions. “If we are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95%, we must switch to electricity supply from renewable energies as it is the only way to reduce the GHG emissions generated in electricity supply to zero”, explained Jochen Flasbarth. In a follow-up study the Federal Environment Agency will investigate two possible alternatives to the ‘region’s network’ scenario, namely ‘International large scale application of technology’ and ‘Local Energy Autarky’.