In the media: The tricky exit from nuclear power
Süddeutsche Zeitung
“Tricky Exit”
Getting rid of a nuclear power station after decommissioning it is as complex as building it in the first place, writes Thomas Hahn in Süddeutsche Zeitung. A public hearing about the deconstruction of the nuclear power plant in Brunsbüttel, in the north of Germany, revealed there are many security concerns about the process, according to the report. Critics argued operator Vattenfall plans to do the job on the cheap and might accidentally release radioactivity. Hahn notes that ironically, anti-nuclear activists are now the most ardent critics of the planned deconstruction methods.
Read the article in German here.
Bündnis Bürgerenergie/EnKlip
“Tenders are obstacle to citizens’ participation in Energiewende”
The planned change to a system of tenders for renewable energy projects has severe consequences for the participation of private citizens in the Energiewende, which has been a hallmark of Germany’s transition to a low-carbon economy, according to a study by consultancy EnKliP for the Alliance Citizens’ Energy (Bündnis Bürgerenergie). Cooperatives and private individuals are often not in a position to shoulder the additional investment risks and paperwork the new system entails, according to the study. “This puts citizens at a major disadvantage to large players in the tenders," said study author Uwe Nestle, according to a press release.
See the press release in German here.
Read an article about the study on klimaretter.info in German here.
Find the CLEW dossier on citizen energy here.
PV Magazine
“Green energy account: Surplus remains above 4 billion euros”
Despite the large increase of solar power production during the spring and summer months, the reserves on Germany’s renewable energy account still add up to 4.3 billion euros, reports pv magazine. The surplus fell 0.5 billion euros in June, after reaching a record of more than five billion euros in April. The status of reserves in September will determine the surcharge consumers pay with their electricity bills next year. At present, it seems likely the surcharge can be cut.
Read the article in German here.
Read a CLEW factsheet on the mechanics of the green energy account here.
Find the grid operators’ most recent account statistics in German here.
Tagesspiegel
“Nothing is for free”
Government plans for the redesign of the power market will not offer enough investment incentives for upgrading existing and building new power plants, argues Hans-Joachim Reck, head of the German Association of Local Utilities (VKU), in an opinion piece for Tagesspiegel. But these will be necessary to guarantee security of supply. Profits in the market-oriented approach taken by the government are too uncertain, according to Reck. This is why local utilities favour the introduction of a decentralised capacity market, which creates a reliable long-term income flow for investments, writes Reck. “It will only be possible to achieve security of supply at optimal costs, if flexibility gets awarded a real price.”
Read the article in German here.
See a CLEW factsheet on the government's White Paper for the reform of the power market here.
Vattenfall
“Construction start on high sea for offshore windpark Sandbank”
Swedish utility Vattenfall and Munich’s utility SWM have started work on the new offshore windpark Sandbank, according to a press release. Total investment volume for the project is 1.2 billion euros. The offshore project will consist of 72 wind turbines from German industry giant Siemens, with a total capacity of 288 MW. The park will produce enough electricity to supply 400.000 households, according to the press release.
Read the press release in German here.
