Habeck presents “Easter package”
The expansion of renewables should go much faster
4/6/2022 1:47 am
In 2021, Germany will cover 42 percent of its electricity needs with renewable energies. By 2035 it should be 100 percent – for reasons of climate protection, but also to free yourself from potentially risky dependencies. With the 500-page “Immediate Energy Measures Package” Minister for Climate Protection Habeck is presenting the largest energy policy amendment in decades.
The federal government wants to massively accelerate the expansion of renewable energies. Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck will bring a comprehensive package of measures to the cabinet on Wednesday. The so-called Easter package provides for changes to numerous laws and regulations. This is intended to implement energy policy goals from the traffic light coalition agreement. Although they are independent of the war in Ukraine, they are even more relevant due to the high dependence on energy supplies from Russia.
There is a double urgency, according to the ministry. “On the one hand, the climate crisis is coming to a head. On the other hand, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in violation of international law, shows how important it is to phase out fossil energies and push ahead with the expansion of renewables.” With the Easter package comes the biggest change in energy policy in decades. “It will comprehensively accelerate the expansion of renewable energies, on water, on land and on the roof.”
Habeck wants to present the plans on Wednesday followingnoon in Berlin. There is no information on the costs yet. In the future, the money will come from the climate fund, which has just been increased by 60 billion euros. The Easter package is intended to change, among other things, the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and the Offshore Wind Energy Act.
Renewable energies become “overriding public interest”
The principle is anchored that the use of renewable energies is in the overriding public interest and serves public safety. By 2030, at least 80 percent of German electricity consumption should come from renewable sources. By 2035 it should be almost 100 percent. For comparison: in 2021 the rate was only 42 percent. However, experts anticipate an increase in power consumption. “It follows that in 2030 a total of around 600 terawatt hours of electricity should be provided in Germany from renewable energies,” government circles said.
In order to achieve the ambitious goal, new areas are to be made available for the expansion of photovoltaics. The remuneration for solar power will be increased significantly. That should take effect as early as 2022. Low-wind locations are also to be developed more intensively. The expansion targets for offshore wind energy are increased to at least 30 gigawatts by 2030, at least 40 gigawatts by 2035 and at least 70 gigawatts by 2045. In addition, the requirements plan for the expansion of the transmission grids will be updated. “19 new network expansion projects will be included and 17 network expansion projects will be changed,” says the paper from the Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, which is available to n-tv.de.
Wind turbines are repeatedly criticized by local residents. The federal government now wants to speed up planning and approvals for areas that have already been pre-examined. “Environmental assessments and participation rights are bundled more.”
The law is scheduled to come into force in the summer
The government’s plans still have to go through the Bundestag. The changes are expected to come into effect as early as July 1st. Further climate protection measures are expected over the course of the year. Above all, they should ensure more energy efficiency in buildings and progress in the CO2 targets for the transport sector. The plan that states should allocate two percent of their area to wind energy is still controversial.
Germany, which is still heavily dependent on gas and oil supplies from Russia, is expected to be climate neutral overall by 2045. That’s why Habeck’s declared goal is to triple the pace of climate protection. Last year, however, Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions increased significantly once more. The building and transport sectors did not meet their targets, unlike industry and agriculture.