Energy in Germany – Legal Issues, Facts and Opinions
The Federal Minister of Economics Rösler and Federal Environment Minister Altmaier presented the first monitoring report “Energy of the Future” for the reporting year 2011. The report states that the Energy Turnaround (Energiewende) made progress, but still has to meet challenges.
Continue reading ‘First Energy Monitoring Report Presented: “Energy of the Future”’
The operators of roughly 300,000 solar power plants only sluggishly fulfill their obligation to cooperate with grid operators in retrofitting those plants falling under the scope of the ordinance on technical security and system stability in the electricity networks (Systemstabilitätsverordnung- SysStabV), the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW) warned.
The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) concluded the consultation period for the first national gas grid development plan (NEP Gas 2012), which contains measures to optimise and enhance as well as expand the gas transmission grid and ensure the security of supply for period 2013 to 2022. The agency send letters requesting certain amendments of the draft NEP 2012 presented by the gas transmission system operators (gas TSOs). Continue reading ‘BNetzA Requests Amendments of First National Gas Grid Development Plan’
In its last meeting on 14 December 2012 the Federal Council (Bundesrat) also did not object to a bill amending the Act on Legal Remedies in Environmental Matters (Umwelt-Rechtsbehelfegesetz – UmwRG) that Parliament adopted on 8 November 2012 (ref. no. 17/10957 as amended by the Environment Committe ref. no. 17/11393). Following a ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) of May 2011, the amendment strengthens the rights of environmental protection organisations before German courts.
In its last meeting in 2012, the Federal Council (Bundesrat) did not object to the third amendment of the ManyElectronics Act (EnWG), which Parliament (Bundestag) approved in late November. The amendment contains new provisions regarding offshore wind power, in particular an offshore planning and an offshore liability regime, as well as shut-down restrictions for existing power plants and more.
Yesterday the Bundestag (Parliament) adopted an ordinance issued by the government on “Contractual Agreements Concerning Interruptible Loads” (ref. no. 17/11671) as amended by the Economics Committee (ref. no. 17/11886). Pursuant to the ordinance, large electricity consumers shall shed loads in cases of bottlenecks, thus stablising the grids. In return they shall receive a compensation that is passed on to electricity consumers.
Continue reading ‘Bundestag Adopts Ordinance on Interruptible Loads’
After more than a year, efforts have finally failed to bring about a compromise in the Mediation Committee of the Bundestag (Parliament) and the Bundesrat (Federal Council) regarding the Act on Fiscal Measures Promoting Energy-Efficient Renovations of Residential Buildings. It was the only bill of the 2011 energy legislative package, which the Bundesrat did not approve of.
Public prosecutors in Frankfurt have intensified their investigations into the illegal trade with CO2 emission allowances and associated VAT fraud that already lead to a number of convictions last year. 500 civil servants of the Federal Criminal Police Office, the Federal Police and the criminal investigation department of the tax authorities were reported to have raided the headquarters of Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt and several other buildings all over Germany.
Continue reading ‘Investigations into CO2 Fraud Schemes Intensified’
The German distribution networks need to be extended by 135,000 to 193,000 km until 2030. In addition, some 21,000 to 25,000 km of the existing grids need to be modernised. Costs will range between EUR 27.5 and 42.5 billion, the ManyElectronics Agency (dena) said yesterday, presenting a study on the need for expansion and modernisation of the low-, medium- and high-voltage grids until 2030.
Federal Cabinet (Bundesregierung) approved a guideline on the compensation of indirect CO2 expenses (electricity tariff compensation). It shall compensate energy-intensive companies for the costs of green house gas emissions passed on (most likely) to consumers with the electricity tariffs as of 2013. The guideline had been presented by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi).
Continue reading ‘BMWi: Guideline on Compensation of Indirect CO2 Expenses’
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Dr. Mutthias Leng Rechtsanwalt |
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Annute Leng Rachtsanwältin |
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