Jan Lozek, Managing Partner and Founder of Future Energy Ventures (FEV)<\/p>\n
Future Energy Ventures
\nGermany has fired a \u20ac100 billion green investment gun<\/p>\n
In the race for a net-zero future \u2014Germany\u2019s latest \u20ac100 billion climate investment package is so large it has been dubbed a “green bombshell.” This latest move signals an unwavering commitment to decarbonization in the face of geopolitical and infrastructural challenges.<\/p>\n
In a landmark decision backed by the Greens, the German government has secured a massive fund<\/a> aimed at slashing emissions and accelerating the shift to clean energy. \u201cThis is not just about hitting climate targets \u2014 it\u2019s about reshaping the entire energy landscape,\u201d says Jan Lozek, founder and managing partner of Future Energy Ventures (FEV), a climate-focused venture capital firm headquartered in Germany.<\/p>\n Leading the Charge<\/p>\n Germany\u2019s position as a global climate leader is well-earned. Germany\u2019s Energiewende (energy transition) is one of the most ambitious and closely watched renewable energy transformations globally. Germany has achieved several significant milestones in its shift from fossil fuels and nuclear power to renewables.<\/p>\n In 2023, renewable energy sources accounted for over 50%<\/a> of Germany\u2019s gross electricity consumption for the first time, reaching nearly 52% for the full year. This marked a pivotal moment, as renewables became the dominant source in the national energy mix.<\/p>\n Germany\u2019s installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity surpassed 100 GW at the start of 2024, a significant leap driven by the addition of over one million new solar systems in 2023 alone. The total number of PV arrays exceeded five million <\/a>in early 2025. The country aims to more than double solar capacity to 215 GW by 2030.<\/p>\n Wind energy continues to be a cornerstone of Germany\u2019s renewable strategy. In 2024, wind power (onshore and offshore) contributed 136.4 TWh, making up about one-third of the total electricity output. Offshore wind saw notable growth, with new large-scale wind farms connected in 2024<\/a>. Wind power is charging ahead, with a national target of 145 GW by 2030, positioning Germany just behind China and the US in global rankings.<\/p>\n The country is speeding ahead in its Energiewende \u2014 the long-term strategy to phase out nuclear and fossil energy. But it\u2019s not come without its growing pains: the speed of progress on renewables is now blocked by grid infrastructure constraints.<\/p>\n A worker installs a solar panel at a solar park being built by ‘F&S solar service’ company near … More Erftstadt, western Germany on October 22, 2024. The photovoltaic system is being built on an area of around 16 hectares and consists of more than 28,000 modules with an output of 16.4 megawatt (MW). (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER \/ AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n AFP via Getty Images Lozek, whose firm backs early-stage companies accelerating the energy transition, sees the irony in Germany\u2019s current challenge: \u201cWe\u2019ve scaled renewables at an impressive pace, but the grid hasn\u2019t caught up. The infrastructure we\u2019re relying on wasn\u2019t designed for a decentralised, dynamic energy system.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed, Germany\u2019s ageing power grids, built for centralised coal and gas plants, are struggling to accommodate the unpredictable flow of distributed solar and wind power. The surge in decentralised energy has created \u201cvisibility gaps\u201d for grid operators, leaving them unable to effectively balance supply and demand. The consequences? Surpluses go to waste, and blackouts could loom.<\/p>\n Lozek argues the solution lies in a smarter, more agile system. \u201cWe need to roll out smart meters, decentralised controls, and energy storage solutions that let us manage this new ecosystem in real-time. Local optimisation will be key \u2014 not just pouring more power into the grid, but using it where it’s produced.\u201d<\/p>\n Investing in the Clean Energy Future<\/p>\n It\u2019s precisely this nexus of innovation and necessity that climate tech investors like Lozek are betting on. FEV, launched in 2016, has grown alongside the sector it champions: \u201cWe back asset-light, scalable software solutions that help decarbonize energy systems,\u201d Lozek explains. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about financial returns \u2014 it\u2019s about building a liveable future.\u201d<\/p>\n Lozek himself embodies the blend of technologist and environmentalist. A veteran of companies like RWE, Innogy, and E.ON, he has witnessed the shift in the energy landscape from the inside out. \u201cMy journey was always driven by a passion for innovation, tech, and sustainability. When we started FEV, we knew we were entering an era where capital could catalyse climate solutions at scale.\u201d<\/p>\n What kind of companies catch his eye? \u201cStartups that are tackling the core infrastructure challenges of energy and urban living \u2014 energy storage, grid management, smart cities. We\u2019re also seeing huge potential in AI and cybersecurity as the energy sector becomes increasingly digital.\u201d<\/p>\n And it\u2019s not all about big ideas and polished decks. \u201cA great pitch isn\u2019t about style,\u201d Lozek says. \u201cIt\u2019s about authenticity \u2014 do they truly understand the problem they\u2019re solving? Do they have a strong team?”<\/p>\n A Global Moment for Renewables<\/p>\n Germany\u2019s bold move isn\u2019t happening in a vacuum. The EU as a whole is targeting a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, with billions earmarked for green tech through the Green Deal Industrial Plan. Globally, the world now invests<\/a> twice as much in clean energy as it does in fossil fuels, with total global energy investment exceeding $3 trillion<\/a> for the first time in 2024.<\/p>\n But there is still a long road ahead. Despite the surge in renewables, fossil fuels remain embedded in sectors like manufacturing, transport, and agriculture. Lozek sees these as the next frontiers. \u201cDecarbonizing heavy industry and transitioning to a circular economy \u2014 these are massive opportunities. We need scalable solutions that can make a dent in global emissions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jan Lozek, Managing Partner and Founder of Future Energy Ventures (FEV) Future Energy Ventures Germany has fired a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":87378,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5310],"tags":[5356,41777,2000,299,1824,1242,1243,30932],"class_list":{"0":"post-87377","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-germany","8":"tag-clean-energy","9":"tag-climate-investment","10":"tag-eu","11":"tag-europe","12":"tag-germany","13":"tag-renewables","14":"tag-solar","15":"tag-wind"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114477949740809384","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87377"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87377\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/87378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nGridlocked by Progress<\/p>\n