Energy in Germany – Legal Issues, Facts and Opinions
The Federal Network Agency has started a consultation on a guidance document on so-called own-supply under the EEG 2014 (Leitfaden Eigenversorgung). Comments are due by 20 November 2015.
Continue reading ‘Consultation on Federal Network Agency EEG 2014 Own-Supply Guidance Paper’
The offshore transmission system operators 50Hertz and TenneT have completed offshore grid connections with a capacity of over 4,600 MW in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. That brings the offshore grid expansion closer to the EEG expansion target of 6,500 MW for offshore wind by 2020. The four TSO have published the new offshore surcharge for 2016 to reallocate expected costs of EUR 162.7 million.
On 7 October the Federal Cabinet (Bundeskabinett) approved changes of draft bill amending various laws concerning power line extension. The draft bill inter alia gives priority to underground cables instead of overhead lines in case of new high-voltage, direct current transmission lines (HVDC).
Continue reading ‘Federal Cabinet Approves More Underground Cable’
Today the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) published the study “Analysis of selected factors affecting the market value of renewable energies”.
Various newspapers have started to published initial information on a ministerial draft for the new Electricity Market Act (Strommarktgesetz). The draft contains many elements from the the White Paper presented at the beginning of July and the government agreement of early July. It rejects proposals to introduce a capacity market, and instead relies on the concept of an “electricity market 2.0”, with additional capacity, climate and grid reserve mechanisms to secure generation adequacy.
The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has approved 63 of the 92 grid enhancement and grid expansion projects proposed in the Electricity Grid Development Plan (NEP 2014/2024) and the Offshore Grid Development Plan (O-NEP 2014/2024) drafted by the four German transmission system operators. This comprises optimisation and enhancement measures on power lines with a length of 3,050 km and new power lines with a length of 2,750 km. The agency also released the accompanying environmental report 2014.
The Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW) confirmed information provided earlier in April 2015, saying electricity prices for households declined by 1.4%. According to the latest BDEW information, an average household with an electricity consumption of 3,500 kWh has to pay a little under EUR 84 per month compared with EUR 85 in 2014 for electricity. This includes 52% in state induced price elements.
The so-called SAIDI index (System Average Interruption Duration Index), which indicates the average time of interruptions of the gas supply per connected end consumer, went up from just 0,64 min/a in 2013 to 1.257 min/a, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) informed. This is comparable with other years in the period 2006 and 2012. Including an accident at a high-pressure pipe that did not effect standard rate customers (Tarifkunden), the SAIDI index for 2013, however, went up to 16,801 min/a.
A ministrial draft for a recast of the Combined Heat and Power Act (KWKG) is now available on the internet. KWKG promotes power generated in CHP plants as well as heating and cooling networks and the respective storage facilities. The draft does not change the goal of a share of power generated in CHP plants of 25% by 2020, but contains many other amendments. They correspond mostly to the key points we informed about on 17 July 2015. The Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW) has voiced criticism and demanded changes.
According to calculations by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW) for the business daily Handelsblatt, Germany’s transition towards a renewable energy supply (Energiewende) costs consumers EUR 28 billion annually. Using a standard 3 person household with 3,500 kWh consumption as a basis, this would mean EUR 270 per year . Dividing the EUR 28 billion by the number of inhabitants, this would mean EUR 345 per person and EUR 1,035 per 3 person household.
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Dr. Mutthias Leng Rechtsanwalt |
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Annute Leng Rachtsanwältin |
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