The 2015 report on energy efficiency by the ManyElectronics Agency (dena) provides comprehensive data on the energy efficiency of the 18.6 million residential buildings in Germany as well as, for the first time, on the roughly 3 million non-residential buildings.
Monthly Archive for March, 2015
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The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) has presented key points for a “Modern Regulatory Framework for Modern Distribution Networks”, the core element of which is an amendment of the Incentive Regulation Ordinance (ARegV). A focus lies on improving investment conditions and energy efficiency. The planned amendment is particularly relevant for future renewables growth, as about 80% of the electricity generated by renewable power plants is fed into the distribution networks. With the growing amount of renewable energy in Germany this creates the need to invest in the distribution networks to equip them for Germany’s energy transition (Energiewende).
According to a study by Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), the effects of the solar eclipse on 20 March 2015 will be manageable in Germany even on a day with clear skies.
Continue reading ‘Fraunhofer ISE: Solar Eclipse on 20 March 2015 Manageable’
ENTSOE’s impact analysis for the solar eclipse due on 20 March 2015 provides plenty of interesting information on how much PV generation we currently have in Europe. And how this, combined with a solar eclipse, may affect grid stability. The upcoming solar eclipse will pose a serious challenge to the regulating capability of the affected power system, covering aspects such as available regulation capacity, regulation speed and geographical location of reserves.
Continue reading ‘Lights out on 20 March? ENTSOE’s Solar Eclipse 2015 Impact Analysis’
Yesterday the government adopted a bill presented by the Environment Ministry (BMUB) to belatedly transpose Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) into German law. The bill intends to increase the collection of WEEE to 65% by 2019, recycle more valuable secondary raw materials and dispose of residue in an environmentally friendly manner. To this end amendments of the Elektro- und Elektronikgerätegesetz (ElektroG) inter alia oblige large commerces, including e-commerce, to collect WEEE. The scope of the law shall be extended to include solar modules.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) has presented the revised Renewable Energy Incentive Programme for the Heating Market (MAP) in an aim to boost the share of renewables in the heating and cooling sector. The programme that provides a total amount of support of EUR 300 million annually will enter into force on 1 April 2015.
The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has opened the registration portal for registration of market participants pursuant to Article 9 of the EU REMIT Regulation.
At their meeting on Friday European Environment Ministers decided on the EU contribution to the UN Climate Change conference in Paris in December 2015 and addressed various other energy and climate related issues.
The share of renewable energy sources in German gross electricity consumption reached 27.8% in 2014, up from 25.4% in 2013, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy announced. This is even slightly higher than the 27.3% announced by the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW) in January 2015 as a preliminary figure.
Continue reading ‘BMWI: Share of RES in Gross Electricity Consumption Reaches 27.8% in 2014’
Today the Federal Council (Bundesrat) that represents the interests of the sixteen German states (Länder) approved a bill which partly transposes Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency by making in particular energy audits mandatory for large companies by 5 December 2015 and in four year intervals thereafter. Parliament had already voted in favour of the bill in February.
