Germany is taking steps to curb its booming windfarm sector in what it claims is a necessary move to stop the renewables revolution from undermining its own success. Critics, however, say the step will deal a blow to the country’s reputation as a leader in green energy. According to leaked plans from the German federal network agency, published on Tuesday in the Suddeutsche Zeitung, the government has had to halve its original target for expanding its windfarms in the gale-beaten northern flatlands because it cannot extend its power grid quickly enough to the energy-hungry south. Germany’s plans to phase out nuclear energy is creating diplomatic headaches, too. Cheap excess energy produced by German windfarms and coal power stations is often exported to neighbouring states such as Poland, the Czech Republic or Austria, where it plays havoc with local networks and impedes those countries from building up their own sustainable systems. While the German government admits that transforming its energy infrastructure is a more complex undertaking than originally thought, officials insist that it remains on track to meet ambitious goals, including a 50% share for renewables in gross electricity consumption by 2030.
Guardian 11th Oct 2016 read more »
The German cabinet is due to take a decision on final funding from Germany’s top utilities in return for handing over responsibility for the storage of nuclear waste on Oct. 19, government and commission sources told Reuters on Tuesday. The country’s top four energy groups — E.ON, RWE, EnBW and Vattenfall — are in final talks with Berlin to nail down the details of a deal proposed by a government-appointed commission in April. Under the plan, the utilities are to transfer 23.3 billion euros ($26.10 billion) in funds to the state, along with responsibility and liability for storing their nuclear waste.
Reuters11th Oct 2016 read more »