Energy policy: Bundestag decides energy package | Stern.de

The Bundestag has decided on an energy package with several changes in the law. Previously, the SPD, Greens and the Union had agreed on the projects. Economic and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) spoke of important resolutions for the energy transition and the better integration of renewable energies into the power grid. “The measures contribute to ensuring a safe, affordable and climate -friendly power supply.”

The projects still have to be done by the Federal Council. There was no agreement on a draft law for underground storage of climate -damaging carbon dioxide. After the traffic lights have failed, the red-green government no longer has a majority in the Bundestag. The CDU energy politician Andreas Jung said that the Bundestag shows in important points. It is about solving urgent problems.

There should be a longer funding option for plants for combined heat and heat (KWK). It is about systems that generate electricity and heat equally. They should also be promoted if the system only goes into operation after 2026 – provided that a certain approval was already available at this time. So far, the law only allows the promotion of new or modernized KWK systems if they start operating by December 31, 2026 at the latest.

Ingbert Liebing, managing director of the Stadtwerkeverband VKU, spoke of an important step without which a standstill would have threatened to expand the district heating. However, the measure is limited in time. There must be an extension until the mid -1930s. Deutsche Environmental Aid criticized that new fossil systems should no longer be funded.

The power grid should be better equipped for the growing proportion of renewable energies. Above all, the number of photovoltaics (PV) systems has increased rapidly. So -called electricity peaks are now to be prevented, which could lead to bottlenecks on the net. In particular, network operators should be able to control smaller systems better as required. The changes in the Energy Industry Act also affect so -called negative prices. These occur when the generation of electricity exceeds power consumption. Producer of renewable energies then received state remuneration for the acceptance of their electricity. There should now be adjustments.

Stefan Kapferer, head of the transmission system operator 50Hertz, spoke of an important contribution to avoiding impending overload of the power grids. In the next legislative period, however, a paradigm shift is necessary for further renewable energy access. “The previous approach to promoting renewables is rewarded as high as possible electricity feed-in. In the future, targeted incentives for network-useful expansion and a network-useful driving style should be created.”

The Federal Association of Solar Economics said that operators of new photovoltaic systems no longer received remuneration for the electricity, which they dipped into the public power grid at times of negative stock exchange current prices. A compensation mechanism then grabs. The financial disadvantage for operators of solar systems is therefore limited.

Digital electricity meters, also known as smart meters, enable the transmission of current consumption data. This is the prerequisite for so -called dynamic electricity tariffs. Consumers can use electricity at times when it is cheaper. Tom Jannek, energy expert at the Federal Consumer Center, criticized the increase in price upper limits for digital electricity meters. This threatens acceptance for smart meters.

The changes in the law provide for greater promotion of bioenergy. The quantity of tender should increase. From the point of view of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, the Bioenergie package improves the future perspective for many operators of facilities. Biogas can add cheap electricity from wind and sun and contribute to security of supply in dark downs. These are times when the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine.

It is about better controllability when building wind turbines on land. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, the amendment to the Federal Immission Protection Act is concerned with so-called preliminary notices for wind turbines. It should be prevented from being secured by means of a preliminary decision, such areas that are no longer available for wind energy systems in the long term.

The change is primarily aimed at the situation in North Rhine-Westphalia. The black and green NRW state government wants to prevent a “wild growth” in the expansion of wind power outside of certain planning zones. A spokesman for the NRW Ministry of Economics said the state government asked the federal government to establish a control through federal law.

The state parliament already decided that there will be an approval moratorium for wind turbines outside of certain planning zones in North Rhine-Westphalia for six months. Violent criticism came from the regional association of renewable energies. Up to 1,500 locations are affected by restrictive new regulations at state and federal level.