Energy minister: “special auctions” not part of current reform draft

Germany’s economy and energy minister Peter Altmaier said that current amendment plans for the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) do not yet include “special auctions” for onshore wind and solar PV, which were agreed in the grand coalition treaty, reports Bernhard Pötter in the tageszeitung (taz). Altmaier said the current reform package dealt with “time-sensitive points” like creating legal security regarding state aid issues. After the summer break, there would be a proposal to “implement all requirements, including also the special auctions” and the question of sufficient grid carrying capacity. To come closer to reaching Germany’s 2020 climate target, the new government coalition had agreed to introduce additional auctions for onshore wind and solar PV in 2018 and 2019 “provided that the grid’s carrying capacity is sufficient”. Social Democrat (SPD) member of the federal parliament Nina Scheer had criticised coalition partner conservative CDU/CSU for blocking the auctions. The conservatives “risk missing energy and climate targets with open eyes,” she said in a statement.

For background, read the CLEW factsheet Climate, energy and transport in Germany's coalition treaty.