Biogas in Germany’s energy transition – Bioenergy – the troubled pillar of the Energiewende
Following the introduction of feed-in tariffs for renewables in 2000, bioenergy plants sprang up like daisies across the country, providing a climate friendly source for power that’s independent of the weather.
At the same time, it has helped to green the heating sector. Farmers have enthusiastically taken to bioenergy as a profitable sideline, and some rural communities have enjoyed its economic benefits. Yet wider public acceptance has not always been forthcoming. There is an ongoing debate over whether growing crops for fuel is really ecologically sound. And while state-legislated support of other renewables has helped to drive down costs, bioenergy remains expensive – resulting in changes to feed-in tariffs that have kept investors guessing over the future of the sector.
