Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) is strongly advocating that his coalition partner increase support for the expansion of renewable energies. Speaking to Spiegel, Schneider argued that in response to the escalating crisis involving Iran, all pending energy legislation must be adjusted to ensure Germany’s energy supply is resilient to future shocks.
Schneider stated that Germany requires these “security energies” because the world is currently facing what he called the “greatest energy crisis of all time” a situation that could recur at any moment. Citing geopolitical tensions, the social democrat warned that “Iran has now learned it can hold the world’s economy hostage via the Strait of Hormuz”. Consequently, he stressed the urgent necessity of relying significantly more than before on electricity generated by wind and solar power, as well as on electric cars and heat pumps.
However, Schneider seems concerned that his coalition partner views the matter differently. While his CDU colleague, Katherina Reiche, has presented several drafts of energy laws in her capacity as Economic Minister, critics accuse her plans of slowing down and increasing the cost of expanding renewable energy sources.
