Monthly Archive for May, 2015

Discussion about Nuclear Liability Foundation Gathering Momentum

Published on May 29, 2015 in Environmental Politics and Nuclear. 5 Comments Tags: , , .

The discussion on transferring provisions created by German nuclear power operators for nuclear power decommission liabilities to a state-owned foundation (Atomstiftung) is gathering momentum. Today’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) has an article with the headline “RWE on the way to becoming a state-owned group”, covering an upcoming presentation by Werner Müller. He is a former Federal Minister for Economics and Technology and since 2012 head of RAG Stiftung – which will finance perpetual mine management obligations related to coal mining.

Continue reading ‘Discussion about Nuclear Liability Foundation Gathering Momentum’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

Storage Federation Welcomes Demands by Federal Council to Extend Grid Fee Exemption for Storage Facilities

Published on May 28, 2015 in Electricity, Grid and Storage. 3 Comments Tags: , , .

In a statement made concerning a bill submitted by the government amending various laws concerning power line extension, the Federal Council (Bundesrat) proposed to also extend grid fee exemptions for storage facilities. The German Federation for Energy Storage (BVES) welcomed the move, but called it not far-reaching enough.

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by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

Commission State Aid Sector Inquiry into Capacity Mechanisms: More Important than Many May Think, Particularly in Germany

Published on May 27, 2015 in Climate Change, Conventional, Electricity, Environmental Politics, Europe, Grid, Nuclear and Renewable. 8 Comments Tags: , , .

On 29 April 2015 the European Commission launched its first sector inquiry under EU state aid rules into national capacity mechanisms. The aim is to collect information that will allow the Commission to detect potential distortions of competition or trade in the EU single market and devise appropriate legislative iniatives for an electricity market design in line with the EU’s Energy Union Strategy. The inquiry is broader than many may think: It is by no means restricted to what has been discussed under the “capacity market” heading in Germany recently, but for example also covers key elements of the “electricity market 2.0” option as it also contains important capacity reserve elements. As the inquiry may also provide the basis for future state aid actions and policy decisions of the Commission (which may also include repayment of unlawful state aid), the inquiry should not be underestimated.

Continue reading ‘Commission State Aid Sector Inquiry into Capacity Mechanisms: More Important than Many May Think, Particularly in Germany’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

BNetzA and BKartA Publish Update of Joint Guideline for Electricity and Gas Concession Agreements

Published on May 26, 2015 in Electricity, Gas and Grid. 3 Comments Tags: , , .

The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) and the German Cartel Office (BKartA) have published an update of their joint guideline on electricity and gas concession agreements between municipalities and utilities for the use of public property when laying and operating power and gas lines. The update was necessary in view of legislative changes. It also takes new case law into account.

Continue reading ‘BNetzA and BKartA Publish Update of Joint Guideline for Electricity and Gas Concession Agreements’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

Climate Levy for Conventional Power Plants Remains Controversial Despite Softened Proposal

Published on May 21, 2015 in Climate Change, Coal, Conventional, Electricity, Emission Trading, Environmental Politics, Europe and Legislation. 3 Comments Tags: .

Plans by ManyElectronics Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) to impose a climate levy (Klimabeitrag) on CO2 emissions of conventional power plants to reach the government’s political goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 40% by 2020 remain controversial. Despite a proposed lowering of the electricity industry’s additional reduction target from 22 million tonnes to 16 million tonnes, RWE and Vattenfall as well as members of the Conservatives continue to oppose the plan. We continue to doubt that the proposed climate levy will be compliant with European and German constitutional law.

Continue reading ‘Climate Levy for Conventional Power Plants Remains Controversial Despite Softened Proposal’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

Article on 2014 German Renewable Energy Sources Act Revision Published

Published on May 19, 2015 in Biomass, Climate Change, Electricity, Geothermal, Legislation, Renewable, Solar, Water and Wind. 7 Comments Tags: , , , .

Our article “The 2014 German Renewable Act revision – from feed-in tariffs to direct marketing to competitive bidding” has just been published online in the Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law (JENRL). On 16 pages (with lots of footnotes), the article describes the major changes to the German support system for renewable energy sources following the 2014 revision of the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG 2014).

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by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

BDEW: Information on Renewable Power Plants and Deployment in Germany: 1.48 Million Installations by End of 2013

Published on May 18, 2015 in Biomass, Geothermal, Renewable, Solar, Water and Wind. 1 Comment Tags: , .

According to the latest information by the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW), a total of 1.48 million renewable power installations generated electricity in Germany by the end of the year 2013. Solar power accounted for by far the largest amount with roughly 1.4 million installations, followed by wind power (23,024) and biomass power plants (13.589).

Continue reading ‘BDEW: Information on Renewable Power Plants and Deployment in Germany: 1.48 Million Installations by End of 2013’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

EEG Account April Surplus of EUR 263 Million, Current Total EUR 5.06 Billion

Published on May 15, 2015 in Biomass, Geothermal, Solar, Water and Wind. 2 Comments Tags: , , , .

April 2015 ended with a monthly surplus of EUR 263 million EUR for the Renewable Surcharge Account (EEG account), leading to a current total of EUR 5.06 billion in the account. Payments by the transmission system operators (TSOs) in support of renewables amounted to EUR 1.85 billion in April 2015, down from EUR 2.15 billion in April 2014.

Continue reading ‘EEG Account April Surplus of EUR 263 Million, Current Total EUR 5.06 Billion’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

15h Period of Negative Prices at EPEX Spot on 10 May 2015 for German/Austrian Auction

Published on May 13, 2015 in Electricity. 14 Comments Tags: , .

On Sunday 10 May 2015 prices at the EPEX Spot for the German/Austrian auction were negative for a period of 15 consecutive hours, with prices as low as -14.93 EUR/MWh. The Phelix Day Base price was 2.39 EUR/MWh compared with 26.40 EUR/MWh today.

Continue reading ’15h Period of Negative Prices at EPEX Spot on 10 May 2015 for German/Austrian Auction’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

Federal Network Agency Presents Annual Report 2014

Published on May 11, 2015 in Conventional, Electricity, Gas, Grid and Renewable. 2 Comments Tags: , , .

The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has presented its Annual Report 2014 for the telecoms, postal services, railway, gas and electricity sectors. Rendering infrastructure investments attractive, promoting competition and ensuring consumer protection were the key aspects of its work, the agency said. President Jochen Homann stressed the need for a modern infrastructure, calling it the lifeline of an industrial society.

Continue reading ‘Federal Network Agency Presents Annual Report 2014’

by Mutthias Leng and Annute Leng

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