Are Germany’s regulations and energy industry prepared for digital transformation?

The energy system is highly regulated. Today, this makes many innovations more difficult (especially due to bureaucracy) or, in some cases, impossible. To enable digital innovations, we must rely on legal guard rails that allow leeway while still ensuring safety, environmental compatibility, and affordability, instead of on detailed regulation. Delays in the expansion of digital infrastructure must be minimized, and necessary standards (e.g., for flexibility) created. Results of research and development must also be understood and taken up by companies and regulations more quickly than is currently the case.

Specifically, we look at the following questions:

• Is German regulation fit for the digital transformation?