Germany boosts energy efficiency investmentGermany’s Ministry of...

Germany boosts energy efficiency investment
Germany’s Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWI) has given its Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection programme a €15 million boost.

The programme, which aims to accelerate the development of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies, will now have €115 million at its disposal this year.

The additional funds will go towards efforts aimed at improving building efficiencies and developing fuel cell and hydrogen storage technologies.

Meanwhile, a study by the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) and the Renewable Energies Agency predicts that the country will grow renewable energy three-fold over the coming decade.

By 2020, says the report, wind, solar, biomass, water and geothermal energy will make up 47% of the country’s electricity demand.

The projected growth in renewables capacity could lead to the creation of 250,000 more jobs in the sector, taking the total to half a million by 2020.