From Ambition to Realisation: A Vision for Germany’s Decarbonisation

The report advocates for a technology-inclusive energy strategy for Germany to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It argues that relying solely on weather-dependent renewables leads to higher system costs, price volatility, and infrastructure bottlenecks. The author proposes an 'options-based portfolio' including nuclear energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS), clean hydrogen, fusion, and superhot rock geothermal energy. Key recommendations include restarting nuclear plants, prioritising clean hydrogen for hard-to-abate industrial sectors, and implementing the EU Methane Regulation to reduce potent greenhouse gas emissions.

• A technology-open energy portfolio results in the lowest total system costs, lowest average electricity prices, and reduced dependence on transmission infrastructure and critical minerals compared to a renewables-only approach.
• Excluding nuclear power from the energy mix leads to significantly higher system costs and electricity prices, which could reach nearly 100 €/MWh, potentially risking deindustrialisation.
• Meeting Germany's 2045 hydrogen demand target using only renewables-based electrolytic hydrogen would require nearly tripling the country's current electricity production.
• Clean hydrogen should be prioritised for 'no-regrets' hard-to-abate sectors, specifically heavy industry (refining, ammonia, methanol, and steel) and heavy-duty transport, rather than for home heating or power generation.
• Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is essential for decarbonising sectors like cement production, where two-thirds of emissions are process-related and cannot be mitigated by fuel switching.
• Domestic methane emissions in Germany are primarily driven by animal farming and agriculture (39.1%) and the oil and gas industry (25.8%), with evidence suggesting significant undercounting of emissions from lignite mines.
• Superhot rock geothermal energy (SHR), which operates at temperatures above 400°C, could provide massive amounts of carbon-free electricity; just 1% of Germany's SHR resource could potentially provide 119 GW of energy.
• Fusion energy is identified as a strategic priority for European competitiveness, but Germany requires a new, specific legal framework for fusion that is distinct from existing nuclear fission legislation.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2025). From Ambition to Realisation: A Vision for Germany’s Decarbonisation. https://www.catf.us/resource/from-ambition-to-realisation-a-vision-for-germanys-decarbonisation/

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. From Ambition to Realisation: A Vision for Germany’s Decarbonisation. 2025. https://www.catf.us/resource/from-ambition-to-realisation-a-vision-for-germanys-decarbonisation/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=From Ambition to Realisation: A Vision for Germany’s Decarbonisation |date=3 July 2025 |url=https://www.catf.us/resource/from-ambition-to-realisation-a-vision-for-germanys-decarbonisation/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2025from, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{From Ambition to Realisation: A Vision for Germany’s Decarbonisation}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://www.catf.us/resource/from-ambition-to-realisation-a-vision-for-germanys-decarbonisation/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }