Gabriel considers renewable surcharge insufficient for comprehensive energy transition

The current German renewable energy surcharge will not be enough to put the Energiewende on a sound financial basis, due to growing demand for electricity in transport and heating (sector coupling), economy minister Sigmar Gabriel said at the annual conference of the German Employers’ Association (BDA). If clean energy were to be fully deployed in power generation, mobility and heating, the current EEG surcharge consumers pay with their electricity bills would not be the last word in legislation to fund the development of renewables, Gabriel said. He also said the government had tied up loose ends in climate protection with its recently published Climate Action Plan 2050.

For background on the EEG’s reform, see the CLEW dossier The reform of the Renewable Energy Act.