German government spent 5.4 billion euros from federal budget on Energiewende in 2017

In 2017, at least 5.4 billion euros were spent by the German government from the federal budget on the country’s energy transition, up about 20 percent from the previous year, writes the German Taxpayers Federation in a study. Four billion euros were administered by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and the remaining amount by the ministries for research, environment, transport and agriculture. The budget does not include the four billion euros the German government allocates to international climate protection every year, or the energy levies and fees paid for by power consumers through their bills. The federation writes that budgetary allocation to the energy transition project has often been opaque, and calls on the government to include more detailed information on this in the Energiewende monitoring report. The federation also says that the national energy and climate policy measures have often conflicted with the relevant international regimes, such as the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), thereby reducing the impact of taxpayer money.

Find the study in German here.

For background, read the CLEW dossier Energiewende effects on power prices, costs and industry.