Scottish Energy Minister to Meet Baden-Württemberg Politicians

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing will today meet with politicians from one of Germany’s major Federal States to discuss shared interests and opportunities in the growing domestic and international low carbon economy.

On the final day of his three-day visit to Germany, Mr Ewing will meet with Franz Untersteller MP, Minister for Environment, Climate and Energy, Baden-Württemberg State Government, and Ulrich Müller MP and Alfred Winkler MP, the Convener and Deputy Convener of the Environment, Climate and Energy Committee at the State Parliament of Baden-Württemberg, in Stuttgart.

Mr Ewing will discuss the similarities between the energy policy and ambition of Scotland, Baden-Württemberg and Germany at national level, and the shared emphasis on the importance of renewables playing an increasing role in energy security and supply.

Germany is implementing the strategic phase out of nuclear power generation by 2022, a process that has been brought forward by 13 years from the original target of 2035. As a result, Germany is putting a much greater emphasis on renewable energy generation, and has a target to double renewables generation from around 17 per cent at present to 35 per cent by 2020, rising to 86 per cent by 2050.

Scotland is already making good progress towards its target of the equivalent of 100 per cent of electricity demand from renewables by 2020. Achieving both the German and the Scottish targets will provide significant opportunities for trade and investment between our economies.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said:

“Scotland and Germany have much in common when it comes to our energy policy, and I am keen to strengthen cooperation between Scotland and Baden-Württermberg, and between Scotland and Germany more widely.

 “We share common goals in relation to low carbon ambitions. We are both pursuing a nuclear free decarbonised energy sector with a significant increase in the share of renewables in the energy mix by 2020 and beyond, and we both enjoy significant natural resources to harness clean energy with the potential not only to meet domestic needs but also exporting internationally in the longer term.

 “There are huge opportunities for both countries in working together as we move towards a low carbon economy.

 “I am committed to increasing cooperation between Scotland and Germany and to share knowledge and expertise that will help us both meet our goals more quickly.”

 Environment Minister Franz Untersteller said:

 “By our mutual approach we can learn from each other and promote an effectual strategy towards climate protection. Scotland and Baden-Württemberg act in concert in this field.

“It is key for a successful international climate protection strategy to follow ambitious goals and work closely together with active partners internationally. There is a close and regular exchange between Scotland and Baden-Württemberg in this field which is obvious by our common membership in the international climate-oriented organisation “The Climate Group”, members of which will present several projects to an International climate protection conference of regions in Stuttgart in late October this year. “

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Offshore WIND staff, June 28, 2012; Image: scotland