German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that the nation has relied too much on the Russian energy supply and that lawmakers should approve a significant reform package targeted at increasing renewable energy generation.
“If we want to keep energy affordable in the long term, if we want to reconcile supply security and climate protection, then this is only possible with renewable energies,” said Scholz. “That’s why we need to kick the expansion of renewables into high gear now.”
Less than two months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine aggravated the brewing energy crisis between Moscow and its neighbouring western European nations, many of whom were consumers of Russian fossil resources, the administration revealed its 600-page “Easter package” in April.
In recent months, Germany has decreased its reliance on Russian energy imports. The administration plans to stop importing coal, oil, and natural gas from Russia by the end of this year.
According to Scholz, the battle is another cause for the largest European economy to step up its efforts to increase the use of renewable energy, With a goal of generating 80% of Germany’s gross electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all sources to “net zero” by 2045, the government recently committed to accelerating the development of solar and wind power projects.
