“Wind against sun”

The federal economy ministry (BMWi) is working on a concept for technology-independent renewables support auctions that would have wind turbines competing against solar PV facilities, writes Stefan Schultz for Spiegel Online. In a pilot project from 2018 until 2020, two joint auctions per year will determine the financial support for a total capacity of 400 megawatts annually, according to a paper seen by Spiegel Online. Separate tenders for wind and solar will continue for the largest part of renewables expansion and it is not yet decided whether the technology-independent auctions will continue after 2020, according to the paper. The ministry aims to comply with EU regulations with the proposal.

Read the article in German here.

For background read the CLEW factsheet EEG reform 2016 – switching to auctions for renewables and the dossier The reform of the Renewable Energy Act.