Mercator Foundation and the European Climate Foundation commissioned NewClimate Institute to comprehensively evaluate Agora Energiewende, an initiative to support the German energy transition. The purpose of the external evaluation was to assess how Agora Energiewende may need to be further developed for a next funding period in order to successfully fulfil its objectives. The evaluation covered two main questions: What is the main role an institution such as Agora Energiewende can play in the future to support a successful energy transition? And how, if at all, would Agora Energiewende have to be adapted to adequately and successfully play that role?

In order to provide validated answers to these questions, an online survey was sent to the 4000 Agora newsletter subscribers and detailed expert interviews were conducted. These data sources were further complemented with comprehensive desk research.