The recently published study by Aurora Energy Research on behalf of EnBW is causing a debate. Its aim is to make the Energiewende more cost-efficient – with potential savings of up to 700 billion euros by 2045. The focus is on a reduced expansion of the electricity infrastructure, fewer electrolysers, more gas-fired power plants (powered by blue hydrogen) and a slower ramp-up of battery storage systems. As plausible as some of the cost arguments may seem, this has reignited the debate about the direction of the energy transition.

Cost optimization vs. future security

The Aurora study proposes reducing the ambitious target of 50 GW electrolysis capacity to 10 GW - because green hydrogen is expensive and the imported variant is cheaper. At the same time, gas-fired power plants (hydrogen-capable, but initially fossil-fueled) should be expanded more in order to avoid grid bottlenecks, particularly in southern Germany. Offshore wind expansion is also reduced in the study, as is battery storage capacity, which is considered unnecessary in favor of gas-fired power plants.

These proposals have met with resistance: critics – from the storage technology and offshore wind sectors, for example – warn of a return to fossil technologies and of cuts that jeopardize technological sovereignty and security of supply. Storage systems in particular are seen as the key to efficiently integrating volatile renewables. In addition, blue hydrogen – produced from fossil natural gas – increases dependence on imports and raises questions about the carbon footprint.

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Smart technology instead of fossil bridges

While the Aurora proposal relies on hydrogen-capable gas-fired power plants and expensive detours, technology already available today, such as PAUL Net Zero, proves that the transformation can be achieved without transitional fossil fuel solutions. The data-based control of energy consumption not only saves CO₂, but also drastically increases economic efficiency in the building sector – an argument that also convinces investors and ESG managers.

In addition, PAUL Net Zero specifically addresses the sector with the greatest need to catch up: the building sector, which is currently still responsible for around 40% of CO₂ emissions. According to Agora Energiewende, more than one million heating systems need to be modernized every year – a mammoth task that can be solved with scalable systems such as PAUL Net Zero.

The energy transition needs efficiency - but with foresight

The corrections to the grid development plan proposed by Aurora may save costs in the short term – but they fall short if they rely on old infrastructure and fossil fuels. What we need instead is a paradigm shift towards immediately effective technologies that harmonize with the existing infrastructure, drastically reduce CO₂ emissions and are economically attractive at the same time.

Solutions like PAUL Net Zero show this: The energy transition does not have to be expensive, risky or protracted – but above all intelligent, digital and decentralized.

In this sense, the call for an efficiency check is not wrong – as long as it does not lead back to old ways of thinking, but offers the opportunity to set new standards with solutions such as PAUL Net Zero. Now is the time to make technology-driven investments – for an affordable, resilient and climate-neutral future.

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