Symposium "Energy Turnaround – at the Technological Cutting-Edge or on the Economic Sidelines?"

"Energy turnaround - at the technological cutting edge or on the economic sidelines?" was the title of a symposium held by the Ifo Institute in conjunction with the Bavarian Trade Day on 5 March 2012. The event, which was moderated by Ursula Heller, Bayerischer Rundfunk, gave a number of proven experts from politics and academia the opportunity to outline their position on the implications of the radical restructuring of energy supply in Germany. After a welcome speech and introductory comments by Heinrich Traublinger, President of the Bavarian Trade Day, Hans-Werner Sinn, President of the Ifo Institute, offered a critical analysis of the energy turnaround policy. Following on from his speech Marcel Huber, Bavarian State Minister for Health and the Environment, joined the discussion with Sinn and Traublinger. Katja Hessel, State Secretary for Economics, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology, and Karen Pittel, Head of the Energy, Environment and Exhaustible Resources Department at the Ifo Institute, examined the question of whether the energy turnaround in Germany can be successful for its citizens and companies, as well as the state.