The book presents a comprehensive and systematic account of the concept, the current status and the costs of the German energy transition: the Energiewende. Written by an insider who has been working in the German energy industry for over 20 years, it follows a strictly non-political, neutral approach and clearly outlines the most relevant facts and figures. In particular, it describes the main impacts of the Energiewende on the German power system and Germany's national economy. Furthermore, it addresses questions that are of global interest with respect to energy transitions, such as the cost to the national economy, the financial burden on private households and companies and the actual effects on CO2 emissions. The book also discusses what could have been done better in terms of planning and implementing the Energiewende, and identifies important lessons for other countries that are considering a similar energy transition.

The book presents a comprehensive and systematic account of the concept, the current status and the costs of the German energy transition: the Energiewende. Written by an insider who has been working in the German energy industry for over 20 years, it follows a strictly non-political, neutral approach and clearly outlines the most relevant facts and figures. In particular, it describes the main impacts of the Energiewende on the German power system and Germany's national economy. Furthermore, it addresses questions that are of global interest with respect to energy transitions, such as the cost to the national economy, the financial burden on private households and companies and the actual effects on CO2 emissions. The book also discusses what could have been done better in terms of planning and implementing the Energiewende, and identifies important lessons for other countries that are considering a similar energy transition.

Dieses Buch schafft endlich Transparenz und Orientierung in der gesellschaftlichen Diskussion uber die deutsche Energiepolitik. Es bietet einen konzentrierten UEberblick uber die Konzeption, den aktuellen Stand der Umsetzung und die Kosten der Energiewende. Anhand der wesentlichen Zahlen, Fakten und Argumente beantwortet es die wichtigsten Fragen in der oeffentlichen Energiewende-Diskussion: Ist die Energiewende zu teuer fur den einzelnen Privathaushalt? Macht die Energiewende die internationale Wettbewerbsfahigkeit der Wirtschaft wirklich kaputt? Kostet die Energiewende tatsachlich "unfassbar viel Geld" - koennen wir sie uns volkswirtschaftlich uberhaupt leisten? Sind die grossen Stromtrassen von Norden nach Suden wirklich erforderlich Ist die Energiewende noch zu retten oder ist sie schon gescheitert? In pragnantem und informativem Stil werden so uberraschende Einsichten und spannende Zusammenhange fundiert dargestellt - fur jeden, der die Energiewende wirklich verstehen will!

Humans are overexploiting nature, consuming too much energy, too many raw materials, too much land. In short, the current economic and living conditions of mankind, especially here in the West, are not sustainable. Who would disagree with this verdict? The evidence seems overwhelming: species extinction, rainforest deforestation, scarcity of raw materials, soil erosion, plastic waste, ecological footprint and, of course, climate change. But how reliable are these indicators? Are there perhaps also other indications, positive developments? And are all these problems of equal urgency? This book gives you answers: well-founded, comprehensible, to the point. It proves that the reports and headlines on ecological issues in the mainstream media are often one-sided, exaggerated and thus misleading. The book does not trivialize, but it differentiates. Using the relevant international reports and databases, it presents overall contexts where otherwise usually only individual, striking figures are picked out. With over 70 graphic illustrations, the book thus paints a new picture of the state of the planet and of the effects of human economic activity and consumption. At the end is a clear list of priorities for the real sustainability challenges - for humanity as a whole, and also for the people living in the West.