Energy transition. Consequences for Baden-Wuerttemberg

The Baden-Wuerttemberg Sustainability Committee (Nachhaltigkeitsbeirat Baden-Wuerttemberg, NBBW) is an independent scientific committee of 11 experts that acts in an advisory function for the state government on its way to sustainable and environment-friendly development; it accompanies the implementation and updating of the environmental plan for Baden-Wuerttemberg (Umweltplan Baden-Wuerttemberg) that was issued in December 2000. At regular intervals, the NBBW checks inhowfar the goals defined in the environmental plan have been reached and issues recommendations for better implementation. The energy transition involves particular challenges for Baden-Wuerttemberg because of the state's specific power supply structure. About 50 percent of the power supply in this German state is generated from nuclear energy. If this is to be replaced by renewable energy sources (which currently have a 17 percent share in total power generation), considerable investments are required in terms of power plants, power grids, and power storage facilities. In this publication, the NBBW advises the state government on how this can be achieved. While the NBBW supports the energy transition, it attempts to ensure that all consequences and side effects of the necessary measures will be taken into account, and that negative effects will be avoided or counteracted whenever and wherever possible.