Industry exemptions at €17 bln in 2017 – NGO / High eco-awareness
Exemptions from taxes and levies on energy use for large German companies amounted to 17 billion euros in 2016, according to estimates in an analysis by NGO Green Budget Germany (FÖS). “About 11.5 billion euros were financed directly by other power consumers (for example private households and businesses) via their electricity costs” and the rest comes at the expense of the federal budget, writes FÖS. Exemptions from the renewables levy made up the largest part with 6.5 billion euros, followed by an estimated 3.9 billion euros for concession fees that municipalities waive for energy suppliers that use the public infrastructure. In total, there are 13 regulations for exemptions, according to the analysis.
Find the analysis in German here.
For background read the CLEW dossier Energiewende effects on power prices, costs and industry.
BMUB / Tagesspiegel
The car is becoming less important to Germans, and drivers are growing more open towards alternative ways of transport, writes Dagmar Dehmer in Tagesspiegel. Two thirds of Germans wish for a better bicycle infrastructure and 61 percent of urban motorists could imagine using public transport more often, according to a detailed survey on environmental awareness by the federal environment ministry (BMUB). Ninety-one percent of respondents said city planning which makes cars virtually unnecessary would contribute to “a good life”.
Read the article in German here, find a factsheet on the study in German here and the full study in German here.
Süddeutsche Zeitung
The German population’s awareness of environmental issues shown in a recent survey by the federal environment ministry is commendable - but the reality showed that respondents did not live up to their own values, writes Christoph Behrens in an opinion piece in Süddeutsche Zeitung. “Somehow it is clear to everyone that the “very threatening” environmental problems also had to do with one’s own consumption, but this realisation is lost in the store,” writes Behrens.
Read the opinion piece in German here.
Frankfurter Rundschau
An average successful bid of less than half a cent per kilowatt hour for offshore wind in Germany’s first competitive auction for the technology showed that renewables support did not need to be as big as it has been in recent years, writes Timot Szent-Ivanyi in an opinion piece for Frankfurter Rundschau. Thus, electricity generation with offshore wind needed to be made “the core of the Energiewende”, writes Szent-Ivanyi.
On the topic, read the CLEW article Operators to build offshore wind farms without support payments.
Rheinische Post
A capacity market in Germany could cost two billion euros annually, RWE’s new CEO Rolf Martin Schmitz said in an interview with Rheinische Post. “Two billion euros is not a lot considering that the power consumer receives supply security for all those days on which the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow,” said Schmitz. A capacity market would be needed due to Germany’s nuclear phase out.
Read the full interview in German here.
For background read the CLEW factsheets Germany's new power market design and Capacity markets around the world.
Deutschlandfunk
The discussions about climate change in Germany and the US differ greatly and climate change denial was “practically absent” from public debate in German media, said climate scientist and ethnologist Werner Krauß in an interview with Deutschlandfunk. Scientific research in Germany built a consensus among all major parties through parliamentary commissions, while in the US it polarised the political landscape.
Listen to the audio in German here.
For background read the CLEW dossier The energy transition and climate change.
Federal Network Agency
The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) published an interactive map on Germany’s public e-car charging station infrastructure on its website. The map currently shows the location, type of plug and charging capacity of 3,335 charging points across the country. Since last year, all operators of publically accessible charging stations must notify BNetzA of their locations.
Find a press release in German here and the map in German here.
For background read the CLEW dossier The Energiewende and German carmakers.
