“Overwhelming majority” supports acceleration of renewables roll-out in Germany – survey

The German government can count on very broad popular support for its plans to accelerate the rollout of renewable energies, a survey has revealed. “The population is ready for a corresponding acceleration: 92 percent of those surveyed consider a faster expansion of renewable energies to be important,” said state development bank KfW, which commissioned the poll. There were only minor fluctuations in support levels among various income groups, education levels, or age. Support levels for renewables are “once again higher than the general approval of the energy transition, which has been around 90 percent for years, and is reflected across different population groups,” KfW said.

The expansion of renewable energies has been faltering in Germany for years, but the government has set ambitious targets to accelerate the rollout to enable a 100 percent renewable electricity system in 2035. In the next eight years alone, the targets envisage an average expansion of 28 GW per year, four times faster than in the last eight years. “In view of the decision to give priority to renewables and the intended shortening of the approval procedures, the broad consensus among the population is an encouraging signal,” KfW said. “If the intended acceleration in the expansion of renewable energies is implemented just as quickly as the construction of the first LNG terminals last year, this will not least strengthen Germany as a business location […] and at the same time reduce dependence on energy imports.”

The survey also revealed general approval of the government’s handling of support payments during the energy crisis, KfW said. “The results of the survey show an attitude of solidarity among the population, and a fundamental approval of the course currently being pursued.”