Germany’s CDU seeks to abolish EEG

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Member of European Parliament Herbert Reul (CDU) has introduced a proposal for a parliamentary resolution on renewable energy in the internal European market.

Under it, he has suggested that the European Commission, "submit a proposal, as soon as possible, for a European remuneration system, whereby a market for renewable energy certificates enables different technologies to compete together Europe-wide," said green energy expert Hans-Josef Fell.

Fell added, "It appears increasingly obvious that behind the scenes, the CDU [Christian Democratic Union] has a strategy to shoot down the EEG [Germany’s renewable energy law], in order to come closer to its frequently stated objectives of thwarting renewable energies."

Almost parallel, the EU Energy Commissioner, Günther Oettinger, also from the CDU, set out his proposal for a single European energy market. For it to function, he said, huge investments and integration are necessary.

"Open competitive markets are preferable to any other economic model when it comes to intelligently advancing innovation and resources, and promoting investment where it makes the most sense," explained Oettinger. He also announced that the European Commission will propose guidelines for the support of renewable energy that will improve the efficiency of the internal European market.

Hans-Josef Fell sees this as an attempt to abolish the promotion of renewable energy subsidies in all European countries and, at the same time, to question their feed-in priority. Oettinger could receive reinsurance from the European Parliament, when his party accepts Reul’s resolution.

"The impact would be devastating for the further development of renewable energy. Europe would abolish the most successful legislation and replace it with ineffectual certificate trading under state-set quotas," lamented Fell.

He added, "In various and extensive scientific investigations commissioned by the EU Commission itself, it has been demonstrated time and again that feed-in tariffs along the lines of the EEG model are far superior to quotas and certificate schemes – in terms of both cost efficiency and expansion."

In Germany, it is in particular the FDP, or Free Democratic Party, which repeatedly asks for a reform of the EEG before the general election next autumn. On Thursday, FDP leader and Economics Minister, Philipp Rösler accused the CDU of being too cautious.

However, Fell says that CDU Environment Minister, Peter Altmaier has already stated in his proposal for an EEG reform in October: "But there are also, for example, calls for bids and quota models to verify suitability."

Translated by Becky Beetz.

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