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Gunter Grittmann
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For Germany as well as for other industrial countries, an undisturbed supply of crude oil and natural gas is of great importance. Researchers of the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) surveyed some 200 experts from the energy industry in Germany who highlighted aspects perceived as guaranteeing an undisturbed supply: long-existing supply relationships with countries exporting crude oil and natural gas, and a high degree of economic development within these countries. A destabilising effect, however, is a high level of corruption in the supplying country’s administration and economy. This is the assessment of the current ZEW Energy Market Barometer. Every six months, about 200 experts from the energy industry are surveyed on current topics for the ZEW Energy Market Barometer. read more
Until the end of 2012, major costumers in Germany probably do not have to expect further increases in energy prices. The picture, however, changes if looking on a five-year time horizon. Viewed from this mid-term perspective, industrial companies, commercial enterprises, municipalities, and other end consumers, which have a high demand of electricity, fossil oil, natural gas, and coal will have to prepare themselves for a significant increase in prices. This is the finding of a survey of the ZEW Energy Market Barometer among about 200 experts from the energy industry and the scientific world. They were interviewed in mid-2012 on the short-term and long-term trends with energy prices for major costumers. read more
Major customers do not have to fear an increase of energy prices until mid-2012. But, within the horizon of five years, a rise in energy prices for industrial companies, larger industrial units, municipalities, and other final customers who demand electricity, oil, natural gas, and coal on a large scale is almost certain. These are the findings of a survey by the ZEW Energy Market Barometer among 200 experts from the energy sector, who have been asked to give an assessment on the short- and medium-term trends of energy prices for major customers at the end of 2011. read more
Experts consider the current plan of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) to regulate "load shedding" major consumers in the power grid a step in the right direction, yet they regard the further expansion of the power grid as the most important measure for safeguarding electricity supply. This is a key finding of the recent ZEW Energy Market Barometer, a biannual survey of approx. 200 experts in the energy industry. read more
Costs for the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) will rise significantly over the next few years. This will put public approval of subsidies for renewable energies in danger. This is the finding of the current ZEW Energiemarktbarometer (Energy Market Barometer), a survey of the energy industry in Germany which is conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW), Mannheim and comprises the expectations of more than 200 experts. read more
The German government will not be able to reach its goal of reducing the country’s CO2 emissions by 40 percent by 2020, as compared to 1990, due to its current environmental policy. This is the opinion of the vast majority of roughly 200 energy market experts who are regularly asked for their opinion on energy economic issues in the ZEW Energy Market Barometer. (For further information on the Energy Market Barometer, see below.) read more
Operators of nuclear power plants would receive profits in billions, if the lifetime of nuclear power plants were extended. The German government expects to get their share from these extra profits. However, that is not very likely. These are the findings of the latest ZEW Energy Market Barometer conducted in May 2010. The Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) conducts the Energy Market Barometer every six months and surveys some 200 energy experts from research and practise about their opinion on the development on the energy markets. read more
Energy wholesale, industrial firms and larger business enterprises, local authorities and other ultimate consumers with high energy needs can expect stable energy prices in Germany until mid 2010. In the next five years, the wholesale customers have to expect increasing prices for oil, coal, gas and electricity. Despite the economic crisis, the long-term trend towards increasing energy prices is continuing. These are the findings of the latest ZEW Energy Market Barometer. The Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW), Mannheim, conducts a survey about the developments on the energy markets among around 200 energy market experts from research and industry. read more
Now at the turn of the year, disputes between Russia and Ukraine on the gas price are again expected. Last year, there already were conflicts regarding this topic. This is the finding of the ZEW Energiemarktbarometer (Energy Market Barometer), which regularly surveys about 200 energy market experts. read more
In the face of climate change, power stations in Europe are likely to increasingly reduce their energy production in the future. On the basis of global warming, which also causes heat waves and droughts in Europe during the summer, especially atomic power plants will be forced to curb electricity production. At this point, however, the question whether the loss of production will impair the security of power supply cannot be clearly answered. This is the result of the latest ZEW Energy Market Barometer survey among around 200 energy market experts from science and industry, which is conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) on a biannual basis. read more
The economic crisis continues to keep the prices at the German energy markets at bay. Prices for electricity, raw oil, gas and coal are going to remain the same in the next six months. This is good news for firms and consumers in Germany. However, prices for these energy carriers are expected to rise in the next five years. These are the findings of the latest ZEW Energy Market Barometer, which surveys around 200 energy market experts and is conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) every six months. read more
The global financial market crisis as well as the spectacular rise and fall in oil prices have ignited a debate over speculation and intensified regulations. This was sufficient cause for the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) to question 200 experts from the energy sector, who regularly take part in the ZEW Energy Market Barometer, about speculations and regulations on the crude oil market. read more
The ongoing recession and the declining industrial production coming along with it have, for the time being, ended the rise in energy prices in Germany. The prices for electricity, crude oil and coal will stagnate in the coming six months. The price for natural gas will even fall by mid-year. However, for the coming five years prices for electricity, oil, coal and gas are likely to rise again. These are the findings of the latest ZEW Energy Market Barometer conducted end 2008 among 200 energy experts from academia and industry about the development on the energy markets. read more
The dispute between Russia, a gas producer, and the Ukraine, a transit country for gas delivery, has had consequences in particular for Eastern European EU member states, and has shifted energy security to the forefront of political concern in Europe. The ZEW Energy Market Barometer is a survey of energy-market experts conducted on a biannual basis by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW). In November and December of 2008, the participating experts were asked to assess supply security with regard to various energy sources. "Over the mid-term a worsening of supply security for gas and oil is to be expected. Experts anticipate that the current dispute over natural gas supplies will not have a dramatic impact on Germany. The country should take heed of recent events, however, and boost energy security by increasing the use of liquefied natural gas and by investing in new pipelines and storage reservoirs", says Dr Andreas Löschel, head of the ZEW-research department "Environmental and Resource Economics, Environmental Management". read more
According to energy market experts, the energy security in Europe will decrease over the next ten years. Especially the energy security through crude oil is assessed pessimistically. Regarding the question on energy security through oil, over 52 per cent of the experts indicate that the energy security in Europe through this energy source will decrease over the next ten years. Whereas only about three per cent believe in an increasing energy security through oil and about 45 per cent expect an unmodified situation. But also the energy security through natural gas and electricity is assessed with criticism by the experts. Only with carbon, there are as many experts expecting decreasing energy security as there are experts expecting increasing energy security over the next ten years. These are the results of a survey conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW)in Mannheim, Germany in the course of the ZEW Energy Market Barometer which every six months interviews 200 energy market experts on the developments on the energy markets. read more
Energy experts expect rising prices for natural gas, coal, electricity and crude oil over the next six months. The vast majority of them estimate that even in the long term (over the coming five years), the costs of those energy sources will grow. Only a small minority forecasts that energy prices will fall. This is the result of the recent ZEW Energiemarktbarometer (Energy Market Barometer), a biannual survey among 200 energy market experts carried out by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW). read more
According to market experts, German energy policy focuses too strongly on environmental compatibility, while a significantly lower priority is given to other important objectives, such as an energy supply at low costs or security of supply. This is the finding of the current ZEW Energiemarktbarometer (Energy Market Barometer), a survey of the energy industry in Germany, which is conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW), Mannheim, and comprises the expectations of more than 200 experts, who are regularly asked for their opinion on energy economic issues. read more
During the past months, the oil price reached new weekly record highs. For the coming six months, the situation in the crude oil market is going to stabilise, while a further price increase in natural gas is expected. This is the opinion of the majority of the 200 energy market experts surveyed by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW). Every six months, the ZEW-survey reveals their assessment of the situation in the energy markets. On a five years time horizon, the survey participants expect further increasing prices, especially of natural gas and electricity, as well as coal and oil. read more
The vast majority of the experts interviewed in the course of the ZEW Energiemarktbarometer (Energy Market Barometer) estimate that in the long term (over the coming five years) industry customers will have to pay more for electricity and that the prices for natural gas, crude oil and coal will rise as well. In the short term (over the next six months) most of the experts expect stagnating coal and gas prices whereas the share of those who forecast stagnating electricity and oil prices and the share of experts who forecast a price increase for those two energy sources, balance out one another. This is the result of the recent ZEW Energiemarktbarometer, a survey among more than 200 energy experts conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim. read more
Politics is frequently faced with the problem that reforms, recommended by experts, are met with rejection by large parts of the population. The resistance against change often appears irrational. According to many experts, these changes are of indispensable necessity such as the increase in the statutory retirement age or measures to liberalise the labour market. Against this background, ZEW examined on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Finance the resistance against reforms that takes place on a psychological level and diverges from the assumption of homo oeconomicus' strict rationality. These findings are presented in the current ZEWnews edition of June 2007. read more
In the short term (i.e. in the coming six months), the majority of the experts interviewed in the course of the ZEW Energy Market Barometer expect stagnating energy prices. In the long-term (i.e. in the next five years) on the other hand, the majority estimates higher electricity prices for industrial clients as well as higher natural gas, crude oil and coal prices. These are the findings of the recent ZEW Energy Market Barometer, a survey among more than 200 energy experts conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim. read more
Not many enterprises will have to bear a great burden from the European emissions trading system. More than 80 percent of the participants of an expert survey conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim, Germany, see the price for carbon dioxide emission rights at the beginning of 2005, the onset of the European emissions trading system, below ten Euro per ton of carbon dioxide. About 31 percent estimate the price even below five Euro. read more