Germany Ups Renewable Target--Again

Oct. 14, 2010 - Paul Gipe

In what is becoming a regular occurrence, Germany has again increased its target for renewable energy. In a meeting today the German cabinet voted to up the target to 20% of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption. The release from Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen said that at the current pace Germany will surpass its current target of 18% by 2020.

As in the past, the German government has had to increase their renewable targets to keep ahead of actual development on the ground.

The renewable target for renewables in electricity generation has been increased from the current range of 25%-30% to 38.6%.

Germany is ruled by a conservative coalition of the Christian Democrats and the Neoliberal Party. Röttgen is a member of the Christian Democrats, Germany's main conservative party.