Energy in Germany – Legal Issues, Facts and Opinions
In connection with the reform of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi) presented a “10-Point-Energy Agenda” comprising a roadmap of further main legislative projects of the government for the ongoing 18th legislative session. The agenda links various open issues of the energy policy shift towards a mainly renewable energy supply.
Continue reading ’10-Point Energy Agenda by Energy Ministry Following Renewables Reform’
The EEG 2.0 reform package is a difficult piece of legislation. Anecdotal evidence is starting to suggest that the new version will be difficult to master. So difficult that one of our energy sector group student interns has already decided to end his internship. He is now considering a military career.
The Bundestag has just voted in favour of the bill giving the German federal states (Länder) the right to determine minimum distances for wind power plants, in the form as proposed by the Environment, Nature Protection, Construction and Nuclear Safety Committee.
The Bundestag after a lively debate has just voted in favour of the EEG 2014 reform package, in the form as proposed by the Committee for Economic Affairs and Energy and by the Environment, Nature Protection, Construction and Nuclear Safety Committee.
Continue reading ‘EEG 2.0: Bundestag Passes EEG 2014 Reform Bill After Lively Debate’
With the votes of the ruling grand coalition of Conservatives and Social Democrats a bill giving the federal states (Länder) the right to determine minimum distances for wind power plants was adopted by the Environment Committee of Parliament. The bill is part of the wider EEG 2.0 reform package amending the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), which will be voted on in Parliament this Friday.
To meet concerns by the EU Commission, the ruling conservative CDU/CSU parties and their Social Democrat allies (SPD) agreed to amend the EEG 2.0 bills. The revised proposals also merges the currently separate bills amending the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and EEG special equalisation scheme, which provides for a reductions of the renewables surcharge (EEG surcharge) for energy-intensive companies and railroad operators.
Continue reading ‘EEG 2.0: Proposal for Last Minute Changes to EEG 2014 Reform Bills’
According to media reports by various newspapers and magazines, last minute changes to the bills amending the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) due to be read in Parliament on Friday may be necessary to meet concerns raised by the commision regarding compliance of the law with EU state aid rules. Reportedly, the Commission inter alia demanded that not only new renewable power plants will (partially) have to pay the renewables surcharge (EEG surcharge) but after a grace period ending 2016 also existing plants.
Continue reading ‘EEG 2.0 Status: Last Minute European Law Based Change Requests?’
The Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW) generally welcomed the plans for a reform of the Renewables Energy Sources Act (EEG) to be read in Parliament on Friday, but demanded further national and European action in the fields of conventional energy, heat, CO2 reductions by 2030, grid expansion and improved cooperation between the Federal government and the federal states (Länder). The statement was made prior to the start of a conference on “New Business Models for the Energy and Water Industry” organised by BDEW.
Continue reading ‘BDEW: Revision of Renewables Law Not Enough – Specifies Further Action’
On 18 June 2014 the Federal Government adopted the 3rd National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (3. Nationalen Energieeffizienz-Aktionsplan, NEEAP). It describes the main existing measures and tools to increase energy efficiency and save energy in Germany. It will be submitted to the EU Commission as part of Germany’s reporting obligations under the EU Energy Efficiency Directive.
Continue reading ‘Federal Government Adopts 3rd National Energy Efficiency Action Plan’
Lincoln Davies and Kirst Allen have just published an excellent article “Feed-in Tariffs in Turmoil” in the West Virginia Law Review. Anyone interested in better understanding feed-in tariff schemes should read it.
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Dr. Mutthias Leng Rechtsanwalt |
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Annute Leng Rachtsanwältin |
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