威力彩玩法

Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)

鈥淣o capacity payments to coal- and gas-fired power plants鈥�

Additional payments to operators of coal- and gas-fired power plants are currently not necessary to secure Germany鈥檚 electricity supply, according to scientists from various research institutes. Such payments pose large economic risks and could endanger the implementation of the Energiewende, according to a study by the , the , the , and several universities. The scientists argue instead for a strengthening of the power market, more demand-oriented electricity generation from renewable sources, as well as promoting the extension of grids, storage capacities and demand management.

See the press release from the Helmholtz Centre in German .

See 威力彩玩法鈥檚 Dossier on power market reform听here.

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Greenpeace Energy

鈥淕reenpeace Energy takes action against state aid for nuclear power鈥�

German green power supply company Greenpeace Energy is taking legal action against the European Commission for approving billions of euros worth of state aid for the new British nuclear plant Hinkley Point C. 鈥淗ighly subsidised nuclear power from this plant will noticeably distort European competitiveness. It will have an effect on prices at the power exchange in Germany as well,鈥� S枚nke Tangermann, managing director of Greenpeace Energy, said in a statement. 鈥淭his effect will have economic disadvantages for committed green power providers like us, and that鈥檚 why we are going to court.鈥� The EU Commission approved state aid totalling 22 billion euros for the plant in October, according to Greenpeace Energy.

See the press release from Greenpeace Energy in English .

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听German Energy Agency (Dena)

鈥淗ouseholds paid more than 50 billion euros for energy use in buildings in 2013鈥�

Private households in Germany spent 53.7 billion euros on heating, warm water, air conditioning and lighting in 2013, according to a report by the German Energy Agency (Dena). Due to rising energy prices, the total bill rose by almost 10 billion euros (adjusted for inflation)听within ten years, says the report. But the increase would have totalled more than 20 billion euros if homeowners had not reduced their consumption with energy-saving modernisations and more 鈥渆nergy-conscious behaviour.鈥� According to Dena鈥檚 building report, energy use in buildings can still be lowered substantially in Germany, as 65 percent of facades and 35 percent of older roofs are not insulated and 55 percent of heating systems were installed before 1997.

See Dena鈥檚 press release in German .

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Spiegel Online

听鈥淓.ON and the dismantling of nuclear plants: Fear of a big loophole鈥�

A legal study by the parliament鈥檚 scientific service has raised concerns over whether funds set aside by E.ON will be enough to cover the total costs of the pending decommissioning of its seven nuclear power plants, according to a report by Spiegel Online. E.ON, which is to split into two separate companies next year, says it has put 14.5 billion euros in reserve. But that sum partly consists of troubled coal- and gas-fired power plants and thus might not be enough, according to the report. The parliament鈥檚 lawyers warn it might be difficult to hold the 鈥渘ew鈥� part of E.ON liable for the costs. 听听听

See the news report in German .

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European Environment Agency Synthesis Report 2015

Germany and Europe in danger of missing their climate targets

Looking at the effect of EU policies on a wide range of environmental issues, including water quality, biodiversity, air pollution, noise, agriculture and , the European Environment Agency (EEA) found that it will be challenging for the EU to achieve its 80-95 percent reduction in GHG emissions by 2050 as 鈥渁nticipated reductions by European countries are still when compared to the recently adopted 40 percent reduction by 2030鈥�. While the majority of member states are expected to meet their individual emission targets for the period between 2013 and 2020, projections for 13 countries, including Germany, indicate that 2020 emissions will not be below their respective 2020 targets (See Figure 1).

The EEA report uses data up until 2012. In 2014, Germany reported a significant fall in both emissions and energy consumption, and is implementing a plan to step up its CO2-reduction efforts. The greatest absolute reductions in GHG听between 1990 and 2012 were recorded in Germany, the UK and Romania

Under , the EEA lists the importance of environmental protection products to the German economy. In 2011, Germany produced potential environmental protection products to the value of almost 85 billion euros (6.2 percent of its total industrial production). Germany was the world leader in exports of environmental goods, with a share of 15.2 percent of world trade in 2011. The EEA expects the importance of the sector to grow, 鈥渟ince all forecasts point to a worldwide expansion of the markets in the years ahead.鈥�

See the EEA country report on Germany and the EEA report鈥檚 chapter 鈥淢itigating climate change 鈥� greenhouse gas 别尘颈蝉蝉颈辞苍蝉鈥� .

See a New York Times article on the report .

See 威力彩玩法's Dossier on Germany鈥檚 climate targets and greenhouse gas emissions here.

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Frankfurter Rundschau

鈥淓conomy beats environment鈥�

Europe is concentrating on saving the euro and forgetting to protect the environment, writes Peter Riesbeck in an opinion piece for the Frankfurter Rundschau, referring to the new environment report by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Angela Merkel, the so called 鈥渃limate chancellor鈥� wanted to position Germany as a pioneer in the fight against climate change 鈥� instead Germany recorded an increase in emissions from burning lignite, Riesbeck says. Similiarily, climate protection plays a minor role in the EU Commission鈥檚 new Energy Union, and when setting European climate targets for 2030, the Commission refrained from ambitious goals out of consideration for the ailing economy in some member states. If things continue in this way, Europe may lose its leading role in climate protection and green technology innovation, Riesbeck warns.