Record number of German firms worry about competitiveness due to energy transition – survey
Clean Energy Wire
More than half of German companies say that the energy transition has negative effects on their competitiveness, shows the energy transition barometer survey by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK). "Concerns about one's own competitiveness have never been greater," said DIHK deputy general manager Achim Dercks at the presentation of the survey results. "While companies used to see opportunities in the energy transition, they are now outweighed by the risks in the assessment of the entire economy. Large parts of our economy are concerned about a lack of energy supply in the medium and long term.” DIHK said that the energy crisis is taking its toll on German industry and making it more difficult for many companies to implement climate protection measures. Phasing out nuclear energy, coal and gas-fired power generation, and increasing power grid charges have resulted in a long-term burden for Germany as a business location while the development of new offers in renewable energy and hydrogen is progressing too slowly, the DIHK notes.
In the survey of more than 3,500 companies from all sectors and regions in Germany, 52 percent of companies stated that the energy transition would have a negative or very negative impact on their own businesses, while only 13 percent said it would be positive or very positive. In addition, 32 percent of companies are looking to relocate capacity abroad. Among those, 5.2 percent have already implemented measures, 10.5 percent have measures in progress, and 16 percent have plans in place. "Political leaders must take countermeasures here as quickly as possible in order to give business a perspective in Germany," Dercks warned. The DIHK outlined steps it argues would help industry with a successful transition and strengthen German business: The reduction of energy prices by increasing supply through power purchase agreements with renewable energy providers; making hydrogen available; increasing plannability by simplifying energy-related approval applications; reducing bureaucracy; and expanding the power grid.
