MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - High electricity prices, sluggish grid expansion, too little renewable energy, only moderate security of supply and too many climate-damaging emissions: The study on the implementation of the energy transition published by Prognos AG in Munich on Thursday paints a sobering picture for the whole of Germany in many areas. The study has been commissioned by the Bavarian Business Association (vbw) since 2012. In terms of climate-damaging emissions, the discrepancy between reality and desire in Germany remains large - emissions are around 25 percent above the target path for climate neutrality by 2045.

The author of the study, Almut Kirchner, is particularly critical of the affordability of electricity - the traffic light rating here is deep red. It is particularly worrying that the trend is even more negative than in previous years - because compared to 2021, energy prices climbed further in the study year 2022. The causes of the immense costs for private households and industry continue to be the effects of the energy crisis following the Russian attack on Ukraine. Even though gas prices have since fallen again, the costs for consumers are still higher.

The assessment traffic light is also dark red for grid expansion. Although there are extensive plans, there is a large discrepancy to "what has actually been implemented", said Kirchner. "At the moment, we have a delta of 2,000 kilometers and we are doing really well if the gap doesn't get any bigger." In order to avoid a division into two electricity price zones in Germany, significantly more supply from the north is needed.

The study takes a more positive view of security of supply: "In Germany, even after the nuclear power plants were shut down between 2011 and 2023, there was sufficient secure capacity available to cover electricity demand at all times," says the 118-page paper. Nevertheless, more speed is needed in the expansion of renewable energies: In order to achieve the targets, an annual increase of 12 gigawatts is necessary in the long term. In 2023, only 3.4 GW had been achieved.

In contrast, the renaissance of nuclear energy in Germany repeatedly called for by the CDU/CSU, FDP and AfD makes no sense, said Kirchner. Currently, investing in new nuclear power plants is by far the "most expensive form of energy generation". Anyone calling for this must be honest enough to realize that taxpayers would have to bear the costs, as the necessary investments could never be refinanced on the electricity market./had/DP/mis