The energy transition is a powerful economic driver for the Hanover region. A study by DIW Econ shows that an ambitious energy transition by 2035 would result in additional investments of around €24.9 billion, €14.3 billion of which would directly benefit the Hanover region. This could generate around €9.5 billion in gross value added and create an average of around 4,100 jobs. Local budgets would also benefit significantly, with projected additional tax revenues of around €470 million.
These results demonstrate that climate protection and economic success go hand in hand. By consistently implementing the energy transition and making ambitious investments, the Hanover region can further expand its pioneering role on the path to achieving climate neutrality by 2035.
The economic effects in four sectors were examined: electricity; transport; buildings and heat supply; and industry. Almost 60% of the investments remain directly in the region, strengthening the crafts sector, the construction industry and regional companies in particular. In addition to the measurable economic effects, the energy transition also strengthens innovation, location attractiveness, security of supply and regional value creation.
Official portal of region of Hanover
Whether a sustainable lifestyle is financially worthwhile for households is a matter of public debate. The high initial investment in particular reinforces the prejudice that switching to renewable energies is the morally correct but expensive alternative to a fossil-fuelled lifestyle. A cost comparison carried out by DIW Econ on behalf of Enpal B.V. suggests that the opposite is true.
According to the German Packaging Act, the target for reusable beverage packaging is 70%. With a recent figure of 43.1%, this target is still far from being met, and political targets for increasing the proportion of reusable packaging are increasingly becoming the focus of public debate.
The Saar economy faces current and future challenges that are unique in Germany. The acute need for transformation in the Saarland, which is particularly significant compared to other federal states, is due primarily to the strong industrial character of the Saar economy. This is confirmed by a study conducted by DIW Econ on behalf of the Ministry of Finance and Europe and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Energy and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour, Energy and Transport of the Saarland
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, renewed curfews in China, and the consequences of these events on global supply chains, the inflation rate has reached historic levels in reunified Germany since the beginning of the year. The German government has already adopted two comprehensive measures to cushion the impact of rising prices for energy, food and mobility. However, given the increasing uncertainty in the energy supply and continuing high inflation rates, these do not seem to be enough.
Social welfare associations, in particular, have criticized that the relief measures have so far not considered lower income groups and pensioners sufficiently. At the same time, climate experts fear that individual interventions such as the fuel rebate will create false incentives in the fight against climate change.
Against this background, DIW Econ, together with Prof. Dr Claudia Kemfert, on behalf of the Climate Alliance Germany, has evaluated the existing relief measures and provides an outlook on how ecological and distributional effects can be considered together in a new relief package. This is done based on an analysis of five measures in the areas of energy & heat, transport & mobility and food, which are currently being discussed politically and in the media in anticipation of a further relief package.