Germany, a trailblazer in renewable energy, is once again making headlines with its ambitious plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. Central to this goal is the country’s Energiewende initiative, a comprehensive strategy to transform Germany’s energy industry into one that is both highly efficient and predominantly powered by renewable sources. As part of this transition, the nation has set a target to supply 80% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, increasing to 100% by 2035. This monumental shift involves the complete phase-out of coal and has already seen the end of nuclear power as of 2023. Germany’s early leadership in offshore wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies has been crucial to its renewable energy success. Major legislative reforms are underway to support ambitious new targets: 100-110 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind, 30 GW of offshore wind, and 200 GW of solar capacity by 2030. Additionally, Germany is investing heavily in hydrogen, aiming for 10 GW of hydrogen capacity within the same timeframe. Despite these major strides, Germany faces significant challenges in meeting its near-term emissions reduction targets. While the Energiewende has dramatically increased the share of renewables in electricity generation, progress has been uneven across different sectors. The transport and heating sectors, in particular, have lagged behind. To address this, the German government has adopted a new climate action plan that includes a carbon pricing mechanism for these sectors. This policy is a crucial step towards achieving stronger emissions reductions. Germany’s energy policy has traditionally ensured a high degree of supply security for oil, natural gas, and electricity. However, the planned phase-outs of nuclear and coal power are set to increase the country’s reliance on natural gas. This shift alerts to the importance of having multiple supply options in mind as to avoid a one-sided dependence.