A comparison of the renewable energy and energy storage sectors in Germany and the United States, with recommendations for engineering teaching practices

Abstract

The German Energiewende is the planned transition by Germany to a low carbon, environmentally sound, reliable, and affordable energy supply. This paper reports on a U.S. faculty international study program, which took place in May 2019, to explore the intersection of the German renewable energy and energy storage sectors. The international program included eleven instructional faculty from throughout the United States on a two-week learning and discovery experience starting in Frankfurt and ending in Munich, Germany. This paper provides an overview of the German renewable energy and energy storage landscape in comparison to the United States. Emphasis is placed on differences related to the historical context, policy and regulatory differences, and technology advances in the renewable energy and energy storage sectors. The comparison of Germany and the U.S. provides a nice example for faculty and students to investigate how technology readiness, regulatory policies, and economic forces all intersect to establish markets for a multinational industry. Findings from the international program and their impact on the education practices of faculty in the United States are provided, with a focus on academic curriculum, teaching practices, and career pathways for the energy industry.