1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
In focus
German election 2025GeorgiaSyria
Latest audioLatest videos
Live TV

Energy policy

Nina Haase May 20, 2014

Europe's energy system is faced with numerous challenges, including volatile fossil fuel prices and geopolitical risks related to import dependency. DW gives an overview of energy policy strategies in the EU.

https://p.dw.com/p/1C2ia
Wind power plant in Brandenburg, Germany (photo: Patrick Pleul dpa/lni)
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

The European Union is struggling to coordinate its energy strategy. Different EU countries are faced with different uncertainties.

The crisis in Ukraine has highlighted Germany's high dependency on gas imports from Russia. Germany decided to phase out nuclear power three years ago, but the government has been criticized for how it has handlied the Energiewende, the transition to other sources of energy.

Denmark, meanwhile, ranks among the top fighters against climate change. The country plans to meet 100 percent of its energy needs with renewable sources of energy by 2050.

Poland, on the other hand, with its focus on nuclear, natural gas and coal, continues to rely on traditional, yet controversial energy sources. Renewable energy remains on the margins there.

In this dossier, DW gives an overview of energy policy strategies in the EU.

Skip next section Reports & Analysis

Reports & Analysis

Two men hold EU and Ukrainian flags during the pro-European protests rally (photo: EPA/ZURAB KURTSIKIDZE)

Turning point for EU?

Will the recent crisis in Ukraine have a lasting effect on key European Union policies?
May 3, 2014

[No title]

December 5, 201304:48 min
Gas Pipeline Ukraine

Energy supply EU

The Crimea crisis has prompted the EU to speed up its energy strategy rethink.
April 3, 2014
Windräder bei Frankfurt/Oder

A New Power Struggle

The German government is proud of its nuclear phase-out scheme. Following a long-running dispute on its implementation, the national and regional authorities recently agreed on a compromise. Major problems remain, however, when it comes to expanding the power grid and covering deficits in storage capacities.
PoliticsApril 3, 201404:03 min
Barrels full of nuclear waste

Nuclear energy bad bank?

As Germany prepares to phase out nuclear energy, major utilities want to hand over the decommissioning of their nuclear plants to a public foundation. But the government says the firms need to accept responsibility.
May 12, 2014

Nuclear Phase-Out - The Flipside

Few countries have followed Germany’s example of making the switch to renewables, primarily for financial reasons. Many see the country’s energy policy as flawed: an inconvenient truth that the government is reluctant to hear. Made in Germany talks to Christoph M. Schmidt, chairman of the German Council of Economic Experts, about the flipside of the nuclear phase-out.
BusinessMarch 25, 201404:04 min
Offshore wind park in Denmark

Leading the charge

Denmark, a climate leader, plans to switch to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.
May 2, 2014

Virtual Power Stations - A Boost for the Transition to Renewables?

Virtual power plants represent a big hope for Germany’s long-term energy plans. They connect clusters of small-scale generators such as solar-power plants, wind turbines and biogas facilities to form one big one. The resulting power station has the capacity of a small nuclear power facility -- and with it more market power.
BusinessMarch 25, 201404:35 min
Belchatow power station

Resisting renewables

With a focus on nuclear, gas and coal, renewable energy remains on the margins in Poland.
April 29, 2014
04.03.14 Made in Germany Kurzarbeit

No Wind in Its Sails? Offshore wind farms in crisis

In cities like Bremerhaven, the offshore wind power industry is in crisis. Just a few years ago, the city was still drawing major companies like Areva, Weserwind and Powerblades. Nearly 4,000 new jobs were created over a decade. But with orders languishing, the companies are now cutting back.
BusinessMarch 4, 201404:06 min
Alstom company headquarters

Troubled industry

German tech giant Siemens and US company GE are competing for the French concern Alstom.
April 29, 2014
external

Britain: Fighting Fracking

British Prime Minister David Cameron is a proponent of fracking, a highly controversial method used to extract oil and gas reserves located underground.
PoliticsSeptember 25, 201305:09 min
Show more stories