Renewable Energies in Germany's Electricity Market

The cross-sectional, interdisciplinary study traces the history of innovation of renewable energies in Germany. It features five renewable energy sectors of electricity generation: biomass, photovoltaic, wind energy, geothermal energy and hydropower. The study tracks the development of the respective technologies as well as their contribution to electricity generation. It focuses on driving forces and constraints for renewable energies in the period between 1990 and today. Through following the innovations and tracing the actors the book answers questions like: Which technological developments, which pivotal actors and actor constellations, which political strategies, goals and instruments play a major role in the innovation process? Which ones of the legal, administrative, economic and social conditions have been and still are most significant? What is the role of conflicting aims between environmental protection objectives and goals regarding the fight against climate change? Which interrelations exist between these variables regarding the expansion of renewable energy usage?