In the climate debate, ambitions count more than feasibility.
This became clear again when the Agora Energiewende think tank recently presented a concept for achieving the stricter CO2 savings targets for 2030.
In addition to more wind and solar power, the planners also considered the installation of another five million heat pumps necessary.
The climate targets, however, require a five-fold increase in the number of heat pumps installed within ten years to six million units.
The trend is at least in the right direction: sales of heat pumps have skyrocketed in the first three quarters of this year.
However, there is danger from another side: A new study by the Energy Economics Institute at the University of Cologne (EWI Cologne) shows that the electricity demand of the eco-pumps in cold winter periods is likely to exceed the power plant capacities.
There is an acute danger that millions of heat pumps will drain the power grid on cold winter days.
In the past, gaps in energy transition planning were often closed by the inventiveness of German engineers.
So it could be this time too, at least in part.