Energy transition

“Climate goals with new EEG is not reachable”

The German Bundestag will vote on Friday on a new energy law. The energy expert, Nina Scheer (SPD) feared that the energy transition is slowed down and Germany’s climate protection targets missed.

Deutsche Welle: Ms. Scheer, the German Renewable energy sources act (EEG) will be reformed. So far, the EEG has made possible the Expansion of renewable energies in Germany and has been copied around the world. Now it is to be greatly changed. What are the key changes?

Nina Scheer: The funding system should be changed to alerts that can be used to control the quantity. So far there have been no of the amount to the limited purchase of electricity from renewable energy sources. The compensation is yet regulated by law. In the future, the amount of the power to set production for each of the technologies, and the bid process to be awarded. The amount of subsidy, the price for this electricity, i.e., it is determined in the course of tenders.

What are the consequences of these changes?

The SPD member of the German Bundestag Nina Scheer does not want to slow down the Expansion of renewable energies

The changes in both the quantity control, as well as the question of the Parties, i.e. who will take part in tenders and supplements.

The draft law contains criteria to also enable smaller players to participate. But it’s the question of the extent to which this engages in the implementation and how many projects from the bid process will ultimately be implemented.

For the acceptance of, and a broad energy transition, it is important that people can participate in local as well as municipalities and the energy turnaround can help. This is the current recipe for success of the energy transition.

In the framework of the past pilot tenders have been so far realized a relatively few projects. Although there were also smaller players among the bidders, but in comparison to the previous development and the old System relatively little.

How do you rate the whole?

Economic and energy Minister Sigmar Gabriel presented the draft of the Renewable energy law in 2016

Of course, I hope that the Expansion of renewable energies will continue on the well. But I fear that the admission. In this regard, there are international experiences. In most cases, the System of tendering meant that only the major actors involved in the procedure. Even larger quantities from the given supplements, in the end, were not realized.

This has to do with that in the case of a bidding process, rather the is that the offers as low as possible. Afterwards, the question of whether you can expand it at this price also is is always.

For this reason, I argued early for this, first complete the testing process: The tendering instrument should be proven first, before you make a change in this Form. As it is seen in the Rest of the coalition agreement. The successful Instrument, the feed-in tariff should not be abandoned without evidence that the turnaround in energy policy objectives with the tenders can be better achieved.

At the climate conference in Paris, the objective was formulated that the global warming is to stay below 1.5 degrees. Are with the now expected annual new installed capacity of Wind and solar power, these climate goals in Germany?

According to the present calculations, the objectives are hard to reach. Against the Background of the climate protection agreements in Paris, we need goals, our Expansion of Renewable energies, re-define and not as a fixed upper limits, especially with a view on the sectors of heat, and mobility. This, however, requires a common will in the coalition. With views of our coalition partners, the CDU/CSU, this requires, first of all, to urge a still further reduction in the expansion of Renewable energies.

We must recognize that we occupy in the world a pioneering role. We also have many innovative technologies and developments, we are able to export prima. A limitation of the expansion is threatening this development. This is counter-productive.

Demonstration against the planned EEG Reform. It is feared an end to the Energiewende.

At the end of this week, the EEG should be adopted in the Bundestag. What should change now in your opinion?

Any Change for more actor diversity and cross-sector Expansion, so the inclusion of the heat and mobility sector, as well as for renewable energy, is helpful.

If the law stays as it is so far being considered, how will you vote at the end of the week?

My vote, I declare, in principle, only after completion of a procedure.

The environmental and energy expert, Nina Scheer of the SPD Bundestag Deputy and a member of the Bundestag Committee for economic Affairs and energy.

The Interview was conducted by Gero Rueter