Energy transitions in Germany and the United States

In order to analyze current trends, challenges, and opportunities of the Energiewende (Energy Transition) in Germany and the United States, the Worldwatch Institute organized the strategic dialogue, “Energy Transitions in Germany and the United States,” on December 9–10, 2013 at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. With support of the German Embassy and the Transatlantic Climate Bridge Program, the dialogue brought together 20 leading experts from both countries. It was organized around three roundtables: on renewable energy support mechanisms (chaired by Todd Foley and Michael Mehling); energy efficiency and demand-side management (chaired by John Jimison and Alexandra Langenheld); and the future of the electric power industry (chaired by Christopher Flavin and Robert Werner).

The presentations, agenda, findings, and list of chairs and participants are available at the Worldwatch Institute Project Webpage. The abstract may be downloaded here (PDF), the event summary <link file:135 - download "Initiates file download">here (PDF)</link>.

Background
While the broader goals are similar, European and U.S. approaches to electricity markets and policy have diverged, with an accompanying gulf in understanding and communication across the Atlantic. Despite its heterogeneity, the EU has managed to provide guidance for member state actions and has established ambitious, long-term, and mandatory targets for reducing carbon emissions and increasing efficiency and renewable energy. In the United States, various agendas have competed in the different branches of government and on different levels of decision making, and strategies have often changed in response to changing economic trends and political alignments. Yet despite the current boom in natural gas production (primarily unconventional shale gas), deployment of solar and wind energy has picked up momentum.

Goal
The goal of the 2013–14 Transatlantic Strategic Dialogue is to close the knowledge and information gap by bringing together experts, advocates, and policymakers from Europe and the United States to discuss recent policy and market trends, as well as likely and desirable future developments. Both sides have important successes and challenges to report, from which each can learn.

This dialogue aims to achieve this goal by:

• Defining the issue areas a) that are the most crucial to achieve broader development goals, b) where a high degree of misunderstanding exists, c) where transatlantic differences are the largest, and/or d) where transatlantic cooperation might have the most potential to create positive change;

• Defining the key audiences that can help spread the knowledge and information on key developments on both sides of the Atlantic as a means to successfully counter ongoing, and increasingly dominating, climate and energy myths;

• Facilitating transatlantic deep dives on a limited number of key topics within the larger issue areas defined; and Managing a transatlantic outreach and communication strategy.