The Underestimated Contribution of Hydropower for the Energiewende (Energy Transition)

This article describes the set up of the German “Energiewende” translated to energy transition with its strong focus on the electricity market and the most traditional form of renewable energy systems: hydropower. With the definition of the future development corridor of renewable energy Germany could achieve the really ambitious self-imposed greenhouse gas reduction. To implement the future development corridor of renewable energy, Germany applies over the years different versions of feed-in laws for renewable energy systems. A technology-independent funding of renewable energy systems is not intended in Germany. Wind power is seen as the most cost efficient technology. Regarding to the presented figures from three different perspectives: political and social, economic and technical, and global warming the current and future possible contribution of hydropower is underestimated. At least in the most powerful federal tectorial states Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg considered by gross domestic product, hydropower has the biggest share of renewable gross electricity production. In these federal states hydropower has still growth potential and altogether the biggest growth potential compared to all other German federal states. Due to this fact it is incomprehensible why hydropower is not be seen as a bigger role player in the Energiewende. Additional research is needed to evaluate further possibilities for hydropower to support the aspired way of transforming the existing electricity market within the Energiewende.