In Germany and beyond, various capacity mechanisms are currently being discussed with a view to improving the security of electricity supply. One of these mechanisms is a strategic reserve that retains generation capacity for use in times of critical supply shortage. We argue that strategic...

I examine the effects of increasing amounts of fluctuating renewable energy on residual load, which is defined as the difference between actual power demand and the feed-in of non-dispatchable and inflexible generators. I draw on policy-relevant scenarios for Germany and make use of extensive...

We examine the effects of future renewable expansion in Germany on residual load and renewable surplus generation for policy-relevant scenarios for 2022, 2032 and 2050. We also determine the storage capacities required for taking up renewable surpluses for varying levels of accepted curtailment....

Recent developments in electricity markets such as the increased deployment of variable renewable generation have prompted renewed interest over the role of energy storage. While storage technologies can in principle provide various benefits for the functioning of an electrical grid, many energy...

Achieving the objectives of the German governments 2010 Energy Concept and the accelerated phase-out of nuclear energy will require significant investment in restructuring energy supply. In particular, this includes investment in installations for the use of renewable energy sources in the power...

Derzeit wird diskutiert, ob der deutsche Strommarkt genügend Anreize für Investitionen in Kraftwerke und deren Verbleiben am Netz bietet, um die Versorgungssicherheit zu gewährleisten. Vorschläge, die Energieversorgung weiter abzusichern, beinhalten zum Teil umfassende Zahlungen an die...

Im Zuge der Energiewende hat die Bundesregierung weitreichende Energieeffizienzziele definiert. Für die energetische Sanierung des Bestandes an Wohngebäuden wird eine Verdopplung der jährlichen Sanierungsrate von ein auf zwei Prozent angestrebt. Das DIW Berlin hat die hierfür notwendigen...

As part of the energy transition process, the German government has set far-reaching energy efficiency targets, including doubling the annual rate of building renovation to upgrade energy performance from one to two percent. DIW Berlin has estimated the additional energy-savings-related...

We examine the role of prosumage of solar electricity, i.e. PV self-generation combined with distributed storage, in the context of the low-carbon energy transformation. First, we devise a qualitative account of arguments in favor of and against prosumage. Second, we give an overview of...

In the course of current climate negotiations, the world is watching the United States in particular. Together with China, the U.S. is by far the largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Real progress in protecting the global climate requires substantial action on America's part. The U.S. has the...