The Federal Environment Ministry strongly supports the increased use of renewable energy and thus a structural change in energy supply. The Federal Environment Ministry considers the expansion of renewables a valuable instrument for a fundamental modernization of energy supply in Germany while at the same time improving energy efficiency and increasing it significantly, for making sustainable use of resources and strengthening Germany's leading position for climate-friendly technologies on the global market. Likewise, the German government is committed to consistantly expanding renewable energy at European level. (Source: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, 2011)