Delay in power grid extension / 'E.ON about to restart'
S眉ddeutsche Zeitung
Crucial German power grid extension delayed
The construction and completion of important power lines in Germany will be delayed by at least three years, writes Michael Bauchm眉ller in S眉ddeutsche Zeitung. The main reason for the delay is last year鈥檚 decision by the federal government to preferably put new direct current transmission lines underground, according to the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA), which published its first quarter grid development status report online. The additions to the grid were supposed to be completed when the last nuclear power plants are shut down in 2022, to transport electricity from Germany鈥檚 windy north to the industrial south. But many power lines are now scheduled for completion in 2025, according to the report.
Read the article in German .
Read the report by BNetzA in German .
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Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
鈥淓.ON about to restart鈥�
E.ON invested hundreds of millions of euros into splitting the company, but could not foresee how fast business conditions would deteriorate, writes Helmut B眉nder in a commentary in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. 鈥淭he collapse of power prices ruined the plans. Instead of investing in wind farms and photovoltaic, E.ON must save money. The path will be longer and more difficult than envisaged,鈥� writes B眉nder.
E.ON shareholders will vote on the split at the company鈥檚 annual general meeting on Wednesday.
Read 威力彩玩法鈥檚 Factsheet E.ON shareholders to ratify energy giant's split.
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Handelsblatt
鈥淒ivide and shrink鈥�
E.ON鈥檚 balance sheet provides sobering reading, writes J眉rgen Flauger in business daily Handelsblatt. 鈥淭he split is not happening at a time of strength, but during the worst crisis in the company鈥檚 history.鈥� E.ON鈥檚 major strengths are its large customer base and a respectable renewable portfolio, according to Flauger. He says the company鈥檚 major weaknesses are the expensive split and the uncertain costs of the nuclear exit.
Read the article in German (behind paywall) .
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Die Welt
鈥淩enault collects the e-car buyer鈥檚 premium itself鈥�
Car manufacturer Renault cuts the discount it gave so far for its electric car model Zoe and keeps the government incentives for itself, instead of passing it on to the customer, writes Die Welt. Rather than making the model 2,000 euros cheaper 鈥� half of the premium 鈥� Renault kept the price at the same level. The federal government had decided on a 4,000 euro buyer鈥檚 premium for e-cars at the end of April.
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Federal Network Agency
Fifth auction period for solar PV open
The Federal Network Agency has announced the framework conditions for the fifth solar PV auction period in Germany. At 125 megawatt (MW), the tendered volume is the same as in the previous round. Bids for projects on farming land are not possible, however, because the quota for 2016 is already used up. A maximum price is set at 11.09 cent per kilowatt-hour.
Find the press release in German .
Find out more in the 威力彩玩法 factsheet EEG reform 2016 鈥� switching to auctions for renewables.
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European Commission
鈥淣orth Seas Countries agree on closer energy cooperation鈥�
Nine North Sea region countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden), along with Vice-President for Energy Union Maro拧 艩ef膷ovi膷 and Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Ca帽ete yesterday signed a declaration to strengthen their energy cooperation. The aim is to create favourable conditions for offshore wind energy and ensure a sustainable and secure energy supply. Their action plan also includes building more electricity links and integrating their markets further.
Read the press release in English and find the declaration in English .
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Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
鈥淓nvironment and sense of proportion鈥�
It is a positive development that ever since Helmut Kohl鈥檚 chancellery there is a minister in the cabinet that specifically watches over environmental pollution and climate protection, writes Heike G枚bel in an op-ed for the Frankfurter Rundschau. But the 鈥渆xcessive ambition鈥� of incumbent minister Barbara Hendricks to achieve a carbon-neutral society by 2050 will harm the foundations of Germany鈥檚 economy, G枚bel warns.
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Spiegel Online/Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH)
Environmental group sues city of Berlin because of excessive nitrogen dioxide levels
German environmental group Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) wants to force the city of Berlin to partially ban diesel cars because of excessive nitrogen dioxide levels. The group sued the city in court because the poisonous gas NO2 exceeded EU limits at all measuring points with traffic nearby. It said Berlin must take "appropriate measures" to reduce emissions, such as limiting car and lorry traffic, and increasing support for public transport and cycling. 鈥淭he Berlin Senate doesn鈥檛 dare to challenge the powerful car industry by banning dirty diesel cars in the city,鈥� said DUH head J眉rgen Resch.
The group sues various cities in Germany and has had some success, according to an article on Spiegel Online. In the state of Hesse, a local court threatened to fine the environmental ministry if it did not improve air quality in two cities.听
Read the article in German .
Find the DUH press release in German .
For background, read the 威力彩玩法 dossier The energy transition and Germany鈥檚 transport sector.
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Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW)
鈥淎utomated Driving 鈥� Germans start from good position鈥�
Electrification and automation are huge challenges for the car industry, but German companies seem well prepared, according to a study by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW). Since 2010, German companies have registered 58 percent of all patents related to automated driving. Study author Hubertus Bardt warns that IT companies such as Google and Apple could threaten the dominant position of German carmakers. But the acquisition of map company HERE and several carsharing initiatives show German carmakers are taking on the mobility transition, argues Bardt.
Read the press release in German .
