German grid agency cuts onshore wind subsidies by 2.4 percent again

The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has decided to cut feed-in tariffs again for onshore wind parks not awarded in auctions by 2.4 percent from 1 July 2018, the agency announced in a press release. It is the fourth time in a row the agency has decided to use the biggest decrease possible under current regulation, as actual onshore capacity additions between February 2017 and January 2018 far exceeded the government’s expansion plans. The tariffs that subsidise wind power are adjusted on a quarterly basis, and published four months before taking effect. Germany has switched its support model for onshore wind power installations from predetermined and guaranteed remuneration rates to setting the price in auctions, but small turbines with a capacity of up to 750 kW, pilot projects built primarily for technology research and development purposes, and facilities approved before 2017 and constructed by end-2018 are still eligible for 20-year fixed fees under the old system.

Find the press release in German here.

For background, read the CLEW factsheet High hopes and concerns over onshore wind power auctions.