On 28 May the government responded to the Federal Council’s recent statements concerning the government’s bill for a reform of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) presented on 8 April and government’s supplementary bill regarding the special equalisation scheme for the EEG surcharge regime for energy and trading intensive companies presented at the beginning of May.
Monthly Archive for May, 2014
Agora Energiewende: Renewables Surcharge May Slightly Fall in 2015 Provided EEG Overhaul Not Diluted
The renewables surcharge (EEG-Umlage) paid by electricity consumers may slightly fall from 6.24 ct/kWh in 2014 to a range of 5.8 to 6.2 ct/kWh in 2015 (depending on the electricity prices at the exchange and wind and solar power production in summer 2014), the energy think tank, Agora Energiewende said. This would, however, only be the case if no costly amendments were made in the ongoing legislative process concerning a revision of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) aimed to cutting costs, Agora’s director Dr. Patrick Graichen stressed.
In its 922nd session last Friday, the Federal Council (Bundesrat) decided against a bill amending the Federal Building Code so as to give the federal states the right to include minimum distances for wind power plants to residential housing.
The Northern German coastal State of Schleswig-Holstein will be able to mathematically meet its electricity demand fully with renewable energy sources this year if wind yields reach at least average levels, Robert Habeck, Minister of Energy said when presenting a new study last week.
The Federal Council (Bundesrat) today decided to request several changes to Mr. Gabriel’s EEG 2.0 reform bills. The changes would soften the government’s proposed cost reduction measures.
Compared to last year, the first quarter of 2014 saw power generation from hard coal down 17.4%, from gas down 19.7% and from lignite down 4.8%. Nuclear power generation was down 4.6%. On the other side, generation from renewables was up – by 82.5% for PV, for onshore wind by 20.6%, for offshore wind by 33.5% and for biomass by 5.4%.
Continue reading ‘BDEW: German Conventional and Nuclear Power Generation Down in Q1, Renewables Up’
The revision of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (Erneuerbare Energien Gesetz “EEG”) is intended as one of the major upcoming changes in Germany’s regulatory framework for energy. On 5 June 2014 between 15.00 and 16.30 CEST we will be organising a joint ManyElectronics Blog/Bird & Bird webinar on where the EEG 2014 revision project currently stands.
Continue reading ‘EEG 2.0: ManyElectronics Blog/Bird & Bird Webinar (and Seminar and Breakfast)’
In a judgement handed down in December 2013, but published recently, the Federal Fiscal Court (BFH) ruled that utilities remain subject to the electricity tax even if their customers are unable to pay to the electricity bill (comprising the electricity tax) due to insolvency or death.
A survey by Creditplus Bank among 1,000 Germans shows that 63% are generally willing to change to electric cars, yet a number of caveats were made.
Continue reading ‘Bank Survey Shows Cautious Yes to Electric Cars’
In a joint statement the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW), the German Wind Energy Association (BWE) and the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) have spoken out against a bill amending the Federal Building Code which shall give the federal states the right to include minimum distances for wind power plants to residential housing. The Federal Building Code (Baugesetzbuch – BauGB) amendment shall enter into force on 1 August 2014 together with the reform of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG reform).
