Germany's energy transition in the media on 14 October
German Ministry of Economy and Energy
Norway approves construction of NordLink power cable with Germany
Norway has granted the required licenses to grid operator Statnett to build its part of a German-Norwegian sea cable planned for 2018 or 2019, the German Economy Ministry said in a press release on Monday. Germany had already granted permits for the 1.4-gigwatt Nord.Link cable which will allow the two countries to trade hydro and wind power with each other.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
"40 billion euro in subsidies for green power"
Green energy gets an “overproportionate” amount of subsidies in the EU compared to other forms of power, according to a report obtained by the FAZ, reports Hendrik Kafsack from Brussels. The report, put together for the EU by consultancy Ecofys, shows that renewables received more than a third of all energy subsidies in 2012.
See the story in German here.
Süddeutsche Zeitung
"Bayer-Boss criticises power prices as too high"
Renewables have pushed energy prices too high, and Germany should explore the possibility of fracking, the head of chemicals company Bayer and the new president of the German Chemicals Association told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung’s Caspar Busse and Helga Einecke in an interview. Fracking involves the controversial pumping of chemicals deep into the earth to extract fossil fuels.
See the story in German here.
"On the way to 100% renewable energy: past the peak of the cost"
Subsidies for renewable energy have been falling since 2010 as renewables have become more competitive, according to a study by research institute EnKliP conducted for Greenpeace. This shows that recent changes to Germany’s renewables law, primarily aimed at cutting costs, were not justified, the study claims.
See the story in German here.
Süddeutsche Zeitung
“Desertec project falls apart”
Only three of Desertec’s 17 shareholders will continue with the industrial initiative, which had planned to bring solar power from North Africa to Europe, as investors on Monday decided to abandon the project, according to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung and other media reports. The company will now function as a service provider in the region. Among other reasons, they cited political risk in North Africa and the fact that solar power production in Europe had expanded rapidly in recent years.
See the article in German here.
