Tap More Energy Sources for Power Generation

Germany should also deepen its collaboration with partner countries, the authors add. The electricity market should be thoroughly opened up and made more flexible. Currently, rigid regulations prevent the use of distributed generation. Changing these would make it possible to, say, use electric cars to store electricity; as a way to compensate for very short-term fluctuations in renewables, this approach would make the construction of ten gas-fired power plants superfluous.

The authors also argue for an expansion of German gas production. Pipelines should also be expanded both within the EU and from key suppliers such as Norway, the UK, and Southern Mediterranean countries. 

Further, the authors call for an acceleration of planning procedures to allow the expansion of renewables. The same applies to German gas production issuing permits more quickly is the only way it could ease the supply situation with any speed.   

Finally, government research funding is needed in areas such as renewables, energy efficiency, smart electricity grids and storage, and the hydrogen economy. However, this funding should not neglect fusion research or research on new reactors.