Monthly Archive for April, 2015

First German PV Auction: 25 Bids Awarded, 9.17 ct/kWh Average, One Company 40%

Published on April 30, 2015 in Electricity and Solar. 6 Comments Tags: , .

In the first German renewable tender aimed at determining financial support for 150 MW of freestanding PV capacity under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG 2014), 25 bids with a total capacity of 156.97 MW were accepted at an average rate of 9.17 ct/kWh (successful bidders receive support in the amount of their bids). This is lower than the maximum of 11.29 ct/kWh allowed for bids, yet higher than the current reference value of 9.02 ct/kWh based on which the market premium for freestanding solar installations under the EEG 2014 has been computed so far. The bottom line is that PV support did not get cheaper but in fact more expensive under the new auctioning scheme.

Continue reading ‘First German PV Auction: 25 Bids Awarded, 9.17 ct/kWh Average, One Company 40%’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

OLG Annuls Two BNetzA Decisions on Redispatch Measures and Compensation

Published on April 29, 2015 in Court, Electricity and Grid. 1 Comment Tags: , .

Two decisions by the federal grid regulator (BNetzA) concerning compensation for interventions in the operation of conventional power plants by the transmission system operations to stabilise the grids (so-called redispatch measures), were annulled by the 3rd Cartel Senate of the Higher Regional Court of (OLG) informed yesterday.

Continue reading ‘OLG Annuls Two BNetzA Decisions on Redispatch Measures and Compensation’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

E.ON 2.0: Uniper in and New E.ON in Essen

Published on April 27, 2015 in Biomass, Coal, Conventional, Electricity, Emission Trading, Gas, Geothermal, Grid, M&A, Nuclear, Oil, Renewable, Solar, Water and Wind. 1 Comment Tags: , .

As of 1 January 2016 E.ON spin-off Uniper will start operations at the current E.ON headquarters in managed by long-term E.ON manager and CFO Klaus Schäfer. The new company will encompass conventional power generation, energy trading, and exploration and production. E.ON CEO Johannes Teyssen will continue to head the company that wants to focus on renewables, energy networks, and customer solutions. Michael Sen, currently CFO of Siemens Healthcare, will become E.ON’s CFO effective June 1, 2015. Headquarters will be in Essen.

Continue reading ‘E.ON 2.0: Uniper in and New E.ON in Essen’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

Environment Minister Hendricks Confirms Electromobility Goal and Demands More Efforts by Politics and Industry

Published on April 27, 2015 in Climate Change and Electromobility. 8 Comments

Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks (SPD) confirmed the government’s goal of having 1 million electric cars on German roads by 2020 last week at a meeting of the parliamentary group concerned with electromobility. At the same time she demanded more efforts by politics and industry and informed about two ideas for more state support, however not in the form of direct grants for buyers.

Continue reading ‘Environment Minister Hendricks Confirms Electromobility Goal and Demands More Efforts by Politics and Industry’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

Killing Coal Controversial – Proposed New Climate Levy Debated Among Ruling Political Parties, States and Utilities

Published on April 24, 2015 in Climate Change, Conventional, Electricity, Emission Trading, Environmental Politics and Legislation. 12 Comments Tags: , , .

Plans by ManyElectronics Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) to impose a new so-called climate levy (“Klimabeitrag”) for specific German power plants to squeeze them out of the market continue to spark controversy among and within the ruling political parties, the federal states and German utilities. The – most doubtful – legality of the levy is not being discussed much.

Continue reading ‘Killing Coal Controversial – Proposed New Climate Levy Debated Among Ruling Political Parties, States and Utilities’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

First German Tender Determining Financial Support for Freestanding PV Installations Oversubscribed

Published on April 22, 2015 in Electricity and Solar. 1 Comment

The first German renewable tender determining financial support for 150 MW of freestanding PV capacity, which ended on 15 April 2015, was several times oversubscribed, the German grid regulator (BNetzA) said. BNetzA received 170 bids in the first of three tenders with a total capacity of 500 MW that will be held this year pursuant to the revised Renewable Energy Sources Act that came into force on 1 August 2014 (EEG 2014)

Continue reading ‘First German Tender Determining Financial Support for Freestanding PV Installations Oversubscribed’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

Government Submits Third Bill Amending the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG 2014)

Published on April 21, 2015 in Legislation and Renewable. 2 Comments Tags: , .

The government has submitted a third bill amending the Renewable Energy Sources Act that entered into force on 1 August 2014 (EEG 2014). The bill extends the possibility to claim a reduction of the Renewable Energy Surcharge to more energy-intensive industries and corrects an uncertainty that has arisen under the EEG 2014 with regard to financial support for renewable power plants that use a shared meter.

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by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

APX Group and EPEX SPOT to Integrate Businesses to Form Power Exchange for Central Western Europe

Published on April 20, 2015 in Electricity, Europe and Grid. 1 Comment Tags: , .

The Amsterdam-based and Paris-based power exchanges APX Group and EPEX Spot announced to integrate their businesses in order to form a power exchange for Central Western Europe (CWE) and the UK. Both companies have signed respective agreements.

Continue reading ‘APX Group and EPEX SPOT to Integrate Businesses to Form Power Exchange for Central Western Europe’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

NRW Government Adopts Draft of First Climate Protection Plan

Published on April 20, 2015 in Climate Change, Conventional and Renewable. 2 Comments Tags: , .

The government of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) adopted the draft of the first Climate Protection Plan (Klimaschutzplan) for NRW. The plan sets out strategies and measures to reach the goals of the Climate Protection Act which the state parliament passed in 2013.

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by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

Commission Finds EEG Support for 20 German Offshore Wind Farms in Line with State Aid Guidelines

Published on April 17, 2015 in Electricity, Renewable and Wind. 4 Comments Tags: , , .

The European Commission has found German plans to support the construction of 20 offshore wind farms under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) in line with EU state aid rules. The Commission concluded that the project would further EU energy and environmental objectives without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market.

Continue reading ‘Commission Finds EEG Support for 20 German Offshore Wind Farms in Line with State Aid Guidelines’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

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