New economy minister Zypries assures renewables industry of progressive Energiewende legislation
Brigitte Zypries, Germany鈥檚 new economy minister, has assured the country鈥檚 renewables industry of pursuing a progressive policy approach to advance the energy transition. At a conference by the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) she pledged to adopt legislation on tenant power support before the end of the current legislative period. This would, for example, allow residents of apartment buildings to use electricity generated by solar PV panels on their roofs. Zypries also said that the contested state support for fossil heating systems would come to an end, paving the way for increased sector coupling and a higher share of renewable power in the heating sector. In one of her first public appearances after taking office, Zypries called Germany鈥檚 Energiewende a general success but said it needed further efforts to expand to the European level and allow for sustained competitiveness of the German industry. She said a pressing domestic issue was to ensure that the major high-voltage transmission lines traversing Germany from north to south were completed 鈥渂y 2025鈥. Internationally, Germany had to make sure its national Climate Action Plan was closely coordinated with neighbouring countries鈥 policies.
At the same conference, representatives of three parties in the Bundestag discussed options for advancing Germany鈥檚 emissions reduction performance. Robert Habeck, of the Green Party, supported introducing a CO2-price tag and a reduction of the electricity tax. He said if the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) continued to fail to deliver satisfactory results, 鈥渨e have to introduce a national CO2-price in order to further sectoral transformation鈥. He was seconded by the Left Party鈥檚 Caren Lay. Thomas Barei脽, of the governing CDU, warned a national carbon price could decisively damage the ETS, which he said was 鈥渙verall suitable for lowering emissions if there are no loopholes.鈥
For background, see the 威力彩玩法 dossier The Energiewende and climate change.