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The Bundestag approved the amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act. The new version foresees the expansion of solar energy in particular by 2021.
By Martin Polansky, ARD capital studio
The year 2020 could mark a new record in terms of green electricity. According to forecasts, 46 percent of local electricity consumption will come from renewable energy. More than ever before. And the new EEG sets another goal: By 2030, the share of green electricity will rise to at least 65 percent. The Minister of the Environment, Svenja Schulze, accelerates: “We have to be more committed to the expansion of renewable energies. If the steel of the future needs more electricity, if the chemical industry, if electromobility, if heat pumps need more energy, so we also need more renewable energy. “
The grand coalition even wants to increase its expansion target for the foreseeable future because the European Union is in the process of tightening its climate targets. However: goals on paper are one thing, implementing them is another. Where should all the additional green electricity come from? The answer is: Germany, land of the rising sun.
In the future, photovoltaic energy will be used
Until now, it was the case in this country: wind turbines produce most of the green electricity. Because wind turbines are comparatively cheap, and at least in the north of the country there is usually a breeze. But the expansion of wind turbines has barely advanced for years. The reasons: protests from residents, demands from bird conservationists; furthermore, the unwillingness in many municipalities and, in particular, in the federal states of southern Germany to provide space for unpopular power generators on stilts.
Andreas Lenz from CSU, an expert on economics and sustainable development, wants to rely more on solar energy: “We have, and that’s no secret, acceptance questions for wind power that need to be clarified, which are related to the way we We operate. Not providing photovoltaic energy. And now we have to see what is feasible in Germany, what is really feasible. And there we see a high potential in photovoltaic energy at the moment, which we want to use. “
In concrete terms, this means in the new EEG: the electrical capacity of solar power should almost double by 2030, while the capacity of onshore wind turbines should be expanded by a third. Therefore, within ten years, photovoltaic energy could play a more important role than onshore wind energy. The coalition focuses on incentives, especially for small solar systems, for example in residential buildings: exemption from the EEG surcharge, electricity models for tenants, better conditions for old systems that are no longer eligible for EEG financing after 20 years.
Greens are skeptical
The Greens doubt that this will make a big difference to the expansion of green electricity. They are also demanding more support for wind turbines, especially when it comes to replacing old wind turbines with newer, more powerful ones, the so-called repowering.
And when it comes to PV, Annalena Baerbock, Director of the Greens, advocates for mandatory solar power for new residential and commercial buildings. Environmental politician Oliver Krischer sees great opportunities for photovoltaics: “We need much more to achieve climate protection goals. And that is easily possible in our country because we still have more than 90 percent of the roofs in our country that are for they”. Solar power generation would be adequate, but that is not used. And for that we need an unleashed ”.
The question remains about costs. Solar panels have become a lot cheaper in recent years than they used to be. However, the subsidy rates for small systems tend to be somewhat higher than for wind power. Good for system operators, bad for energy transition cost balance. One country in particular could benefit greatly from a solar boom in Germany. China. Because most of the solar panels in this country come from the Far East, where the sun rises long before us.
