The German Advisory Council on the Environment (Sachverständigenrat für Umweltfragen – SRU) has participated in the EU consultation on “Progress towards the 2020 energy efficiency objective and a 2030 energy efficiency policy framework”. SRU called for binding energy savings targets complementing the targets for greenhouse gas emissions and the expansion of renewable energies (regarding the EU 2020 targets, please see here), pointing out the importance of an ambitious energy efficiency policy as a key driver for decarbonization and prosperity.
Monthly Archive for May, 2014
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The town of Datteln decided yesterday to amend the land use plan (Flächennutzungsplan) and the zoning plan (Bauplan) for the area in which E.ON wants to construct the 1100 MW coal-fired power plant Datteln 4. It brings E.ON yet a step closer to resume construction.
In view of the ManyElectronics policy shift (Energiewende) that aims to replace conventional power largely by renewable power, Saxony’s state premier Stanislaw Tillich demands nationwide uniform grid charges in place of the current system of regionally differing charges, which puts structurally weak areas at a disadvantage, the newspaper BIZZ energy today writes.
Continue reading ‘Premier of Saxony Demands Nationwide Uniform Electricity Grid Charges’
The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has started the consultation process for the Onshore Electricity Grid Development Plan 2015/2025 (NEP 2015/2025) and the Offshore Electricity Grid Development Plan 2015/2025 (Offshore NEP 2015/2025). The plans were drawn up by the transmission system operators (TSOs) and describe the assumed development of installed renewable and conventional power plant capacity and the energy consumption in the coming ten respectively twenty years. BNetzA pointed out that the new expansion targets for renewable energy laid down in the draft bill for an overhaul of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) were taken into consideration. The public is asked to comment by 23 June 2014.
Thanks to a monthly surplus of EUR 102,894,695.29 the positive balance on the Renewable Surcharge Account (EEG account) further rose to EUR 1,652,825,917.79 in April 2014, the four German transmission system operators (TSOs) informed. April’s generation from renewables was 5,136 GWh, bringing the 2014 total to 17,705 GWh so far.
According to preliminary figures by the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW), renewable energy sources accounted for 27% of the gross domestic electricity consumption in Q1 2014 due to continued growth and favourable weather. Compared with the new record high for Q1 2014, the share of renewables amounted to 23% in the same period last year.
The updated Bavarian Wind Power Atlas provides guidance and planning aide by giving various information on wind power locations in Bavaria, e.g. on wind speed and power yields.
Continue reading ‘Updated Bavarian Wind Power Atlas Provides Information on Wind Power Locations’
After the Cabinet has today completed its proposal for the revision of the German Renewable Energies Act (EEG 2014) with a proposal for the special equalisation scheme, Minister Sigmar Gabriel presented some key elements of the bill during a question session in the Bundestag. The formal debate of the EEG 2.0 bill will start Thursday, 8 May 2014 at 9:00, and will be broadcast live over the internet on parliamentary TV.
Continue reading ‘EEG 2.0: Bundestag starts Debate on Renewable Energy Act Revision’
The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has presented its Annual Report 2013 for the telecoms, postal services, railway, gas and electricity sectors. The agency points out that the political agenda in 2013 was dominated by the energy policy change away from nuclear power towards a mainly renewable energy supply, even more than in 2012. This also presented great challenges for BNetzA, the agency says.
Continue reading ‘Federal Network Agency Presents Annual Report 2013’
A ministerial draft (Referentenentwurf) has been released for the special equalisation scheme for energy intensive companies. The special equalization scheme (besondere Ausgleichsregelung) in the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) provides for a reductions of the renewables surcharge (EEG surcharge) for energy-intensive companies. The Federal Government is scheduled to decide about the bill on Wednesday.
