In the media: Power price falls - Germans split over coal
German Centre for Energy Resources Freiberg ()
Germans deeply split about coal
Germans are deeply split about the mining and use of coal, a study from the German Centre for Energy Resources Freiberg (DER) finds. There is no clear majority for or against coal, and the issue is highly polarising, the authors say. But considering critical reporting on coal by the news media, 鈥渁pproval rates for domestic mining are relatively high. Three out of four Germans disagree with the statement that there should be no more mining in Germany,鈥� concludes the study, which received government funding. 鈥淚t鈥檚 wrong to suggest that a large majority of Germans demand an immediate exit from coal mining. On the other hand, there also isn鈥檛 a majority in favour of coal mining in Germany,鈥� according to the DER. But the study also concludes that overall, Germans鈥� are poorly informed about issues involved.
Find the study in German .
See 威力彩玩法鈥檚 factsheet on polls about the Energiewende here and an article here.
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鈥淧ower prices for households fall slightly鈥�
For the first time since 2000, the average power price for households in Germany has fallen, the Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) reports. A three-person household using 3,500 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year pays around 84 euros per month in 2015, compared to 85 euros in 2014. This slight decrease comes as taxes and levies including the renewable surcharge, as well as the wholesale price for power, have fallen. An average household pays around 18 euros a month for the development of renewable energies through its power bill, the BDEW says.
See the BDEW press release and their power price graphs (both in German)
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dpa / Hamburger Abendblatt
鈥淎fter the nuclear phase-out, now the end of coal?鈥�
Energy Minister Sigmar Gabriel鈥檚 proposal for a climate levy on excess emissions from old coal-fired power stations is being met with widespread protest, from both trade unions and industry, according to a dpa article. Gabriel鈥檚 Social Democrats (SPD), the coalition partner of Angela Merkel鈥檚 CDU, are used to her only participating in a new policy once there are signs of success, a SPD member of parliament told the news agency.听Gabriel doesn鈥檛 want to alienate both the friends of coal and businesses at the same time, the article says. A majority of Germans are in favour of a coal exit by 2040 at the latest, and Greenpeace warns against the high mercury emissions from coal plants, highlighting that German safety limits are far less strict than in the US. Meanwhile utilities and trade unions warn against the loss of thousands of jobs if Gabriel鈥檚 climate levy is implemented. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a complex problem 鈥� Sigmar Gabriel faces a hot spring,鈥� the article concludes.
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Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) / KfW
鈥淕overnment forces KfW to more climate protection鈥�
State-owned KfW bank is to introduce a new 1 billion euro green bond portfolio 鈥渢o expand its promotional acitivites for climate protection with a capital market instrument,鈥� a press release says. Starting in the second quarter of 2015, KfW will purchase green bonds under the new scheme, following an instruction by the German government, which wants to strengthen the market for green bonds, the FAZ reports. "By purchasing green bonds, KfW will help finance suitable climate and environmental protection projects, for instance in the fields of resource efficiency, renewable energies, waste management, (waste) water management, biodiversity and non-polluting transport systems,鈥� Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks said, according to a press release.
See the KfW press release in English .
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Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
鈥淕ermany is the laboratory for the Energiewende and Industry 4.0鈥�
The transition to energy systems dominated by renewables will be a core topic at the industry trade fair in Hannover next week, according to an article in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The German Energiewende is a laboratory for the whole world, said Hendrik Weiler from Swiss engineering group ABB at a press conference. 鈥�144 countries in the world have renewable targets and 138 countries provide public support for their roll-out. All of these countries are watching how Germany manages this transition.鈥� The 鈥溾�� from April 13 to 17 is the world鈥檚 most important exhibition of its kind, according to the article.
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Frankfurter Rundschau
鈥淲eather as climate protector鈥�
The government needs to take brave steps to stop the 鈥渃oal boom鈥�, promote energy efficiency in buildings and start a renewable transition in transport, writes Joachim Wille in an editorial in the Frankfurter Rundschau. This is necessary because last year鈥檚 reduction of CO2 emissions was largely due to warmer weather and Germany risks missing its emission targets for 2020, argues Wille. The weather was the top defender of the climate last year, but not one you can rely on, writes Wille.
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Translation of EEG available
The Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) has published a translation of the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) on its English website, along with several infographics and other explanations concerning the bill. The EEG underwent reform in 2014, the amended law came into effect on 1 August 2014.
Download the EEG in English .
See the BMWi information on the EEG .
See a 威力彩玩法 dossier on the changes made to renewable promotion in 2014 here.
