EPICO - Energy and Climate Policy and Innovation Council

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Policy Report: Accelerating a technology-neutral flexibility strategy for the German market

This policy report highlights the need for an integrated approach to increasing flexibility in Germany's electricity market.

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Strategy Paper: Accelerating EU industry competitiveness: Paving the way for the next policy cycle

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Policy Paper: An Industrial Agenda to Increase Germany's Energy Resilience

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Policy Brief: CCS and Climate Neutrality

Developing a Pathway for Germany

Policy Brief: Piloting the Climate Club in the Steel Sector: Focus on the Quick Wins, Create a Safe Space for Dialogue

Publication: EU Hydrogen Diplomacy in Africa and the Middle East: A Just Regional Energy Transition

A climate and energy policy framework based on the dynamics of competition and innovation is the key to mitigating CO2 and other greenhouse gases reliably and efficiently. With this approach, environmental and climate protection can be combined with the goals of economic growth and a socially just and equitable transition.

Find out more about EPICO

EPICO KlimaInnovation develops sustainable, market-based and innovation-oriented strategies for climate neutrality which are anchored to socially just and equitable transformations, and contributes to their implementation.

We are a think tank that advances constructive climate and energy policies with clear concepts and viable, balanced solutions. We will develop sound positions and analyses, develop arguments and narratives, and make our ideas widely accessible through our publications.

We create a network that brings together key actors in climate and energy policy to set and implement a socially broad-based agenda.

We offer a platform for actors from politics, business, science and civil society to engage, consult, contribute, and advance solution-oriented approaches.

NEWS

Media Mention: FAZ: Wie das Stromsystem flexibler werden soll

This article outlines EPICO and Aurora's work and upcoming report on addressing the flexibility gap in the German electricity market.

Op-ed: Tagesspiegel Background: Europa muss seine Wirtschafts- und Klimapolitik neu ausrichten

The EU is facing important decisions with regard to climate protection and growth. A clear focus on market economy measures and a broad social acceptance for the transformation are necessary in order to achieve the climate goals and remain competitive, writes Bernd Weber.

Euronews Interview: Brussels, my love? The EU's green zombie

In the talkshow, Julian Parodi discusses the impact of the EU elections' results on the Green Deal and the EU's climate and energy policies.

Media Mention: Handelsblatt: Thinktank fordert von EU-Kommission stärkere Betonung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit

EPICO calls for a market-oriented strategy to ensure that Europe achieves its climate and competitiveness goals.

Interview with ENDS Europe: What do the EU election results mean for the future of environmental policy?

In this article by ENDS Europe, EPICO's EU Policy Manager, Sam Williams, reflects on the European elections' results and the future of the European Green Deal.

EPICO in Tagesspiegel Background: Umwelttechnologie als Wirtschaftsfaktor in Deutschland und Europa

EPICO's CEO Bernd Weber discusses the future of the European Green Deal after the 2024 EP elections.

Interview with ENDS Europe: What would a far-right surge mean for the future of the Green Deal?

Will a shift to the right in the next European Parliament significantly impact Europe's quest to net-zero? EPICO's EU Policy Specialist, Julian Parodi, replies to this question in an article by ENDS Europe.

Interview with Euronews: Brüssel, meine Liebe? Was wird aus dem Green Deal nach den Wahlen?

In the German edition of Euronews "Brussels, my love?", EPICO's CEO Bernd Weber discusses the future of the Green Deal and the electric car market in Europe.

EPICO in the FAZ: Wer bekommt den billigeren Strom?

The discussion about the division of Germany into electricity price zones is not only relevant at national level, but also has European implications.

Guest comment: "Electrification in industry promotes resilience"

In this guest comment for Energate, EPICO's CEO Bernd Weber presents important recommendations for increasing energy resilience in the EU and Germany.

Media mention: Brüssel will eigenständig mehr Subventionen verteilen

EPICO's publication "An Industrial Agenda to Increase Germany's Energy Resilience" was quoted in an article by Handelsblatt on Enrico Letta's report on the future of the Single Market.

Media mention: Epico mit Empfehlungen für Energieresilienz

This article by Tagesspiegel provides a summary of EPICO's latest publication "An Industrial Agenda to Increase Germany's Energy Resilience".

Interview with WDR: Klimaschutzgesetz: "Verbindlichkeit deutlich reduziert"

The WDR 5 interview with EPICO's CEO and Founder Bernd Weber focuses on the reform of the climate protection act (Klimaschutzgesetz). Critics fear that, by no longer dividing CO2 emissions by sectors, fewer measures will be implemented, in particular with regard to hard-to-abate sectors.

Op-Ed Dr. Bernd Weber and Markus Pieper for Euractiv: One year on, Europe is still missing a business case for industrial decarbonisation

More News

Statements from our Advisory Board

Andreas Jung

Chairman of the advisory board

Climate protection is a question of existence for mankind and nature; at the same time, technological leadership is the guarantee of survival for the German economy. The reconciliation of ecology, economy and social issues through sustainable growth must therefore become concrete. We must pursue the 1.5 degree target with a binding regulatory framework for massively accelerated innovations. EPICO KlimaInnovation will develop credible concepts for this purpose.

Image: Andreas Jung

Cornelia Quennet-Thielen

Former State Secretary

Achieving sustainability through social and technological innovations must be at the core of an ambitious climate policy in view of the 1.5 degree target. I look forward to the inputs from EPICO Climate Innovation.

Image: Cornelia Quennet-Thielen

Dr. Rolf Martin Schmitz

Chairman of the Board, RWE AG

Our world is becoming increasingly complex, interconnected and political. It is good to have a structured platform for networking and neutral knowledge transfer. And this on the foundation of the conviction that the market and market-based instruments usually produce the better solutions.

Image: Rolf Martin Schmitz

Prof. Christoph Schmidt

President of the RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research

In order to orient Germany and Europe towards climate neutrality in just a few decades, we must succeed in pursuing this goal without compromise on the one hand, while at the same time safeguarding the economic performance of our national economy and the coherence of our society. The key is to embed the goal of sustainability in our liberal, social and market-based economic and social order.

Image: RWI/Sven Lorenz

Nadine Schön

Deputy Chairwoman of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag

On the way to Green Zero, we need drive, courage and innovation. For me, digitalization and sustainability are two sides of the same coin. Whether it is smart innovations or more efficient resource management: I look forward to developing joint concepts for a digital climate and sustainability policy at EPICO.

Image: Nadine Schön

Dr. Lukas Köhler

Spokesman for Climate Policy of the FDP Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag

Climate protection is the goal - innovation and technological progress the way to achieve it. To promote both, market-based instruments are needed to ensure that we reach the 1.5 degree target without having to sacrifice economic growth and well-being. The strategies developed by EPICO can make an important contribution to this.

Image: James Zabel

Dr. Klaus Schäfer

Chief Technology Officer, Covestro AG

Openness to technology, innovative strength and competitiveness are central pillars of a successful climate policy. EPICO KlimaInnovation brings this urgently needed perspective to the political discussion in order to successfully achieve our common goal of climate neutrality.

Image: Klaus Schäfer

Stefan Kapferer

Chief Executive Officer, 50Hertz Transmission GmbH

Too often, we have relied primarily on command and control approaches in the climate-friendly conversion of our energy systems. This often results in guard rails but rarely in real innovation. This is where EPICO KlimaInnovation can fill a gap with an approach that relies more on the creativity of the actors.

Image: Stefan Kapferer

Andree Groos

Managing Director, Vaillant Group

Climate protection and economic growth are not contradictory. Energy efficiency and the increased use of renewable energies are the decisive factors for conserving resources and reducing CO2 emissions despite growth. For this, we need a market-based framework and openness to technology.

Image: Andree Groos