Berlin It is a central goal of the governing coalition: more speed in the expansion of renewable energies. To this end, on Wednesday morning, a good 100 days after the start of the traffic lights, the federal cabinet approved an extensive legislative package by Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens). However, according to information from the Reuters news agency from government circles, the FDP government members only agreed with reservations.
The so-called Easter package comprises more than 500 pages and provides for changes to numerous laws and regulations. This is intended to implement energy policy goals from the traffic light coalition agreement, which are independent of the war in Ukraine but have become even more important due to the high dependency on energy supplies from Russia.
The central goal is to double the proportion of electricity from renewable energies. This is expected to increase to 80 percent by 2030. In government circles it was said that there was a “double urgency”. “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 fuels and push ahead with the expansion of renewables.”
The Easter package is the largest energy policy amendment in decades. “It will comprehensively accelerate the expansion of renewable energies, on water, on land and on the roof.” The package was so named because the cabinet was supposed to decide on the planned changes to the law before Easter.
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According to Reuters information in the cabinet, however, the FDP demanded that further details be clarified during the deliberations in the Bundestag. This was recorded in a letter accompanying the cabinet decision.
Habeck had already announced the plans in January as a so-called Easter package, which should come into force on July 1st. This will implement agreements from the coalition agreement between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP, which are intended to help achieve the climate goals.
Due to the Ukraine war, the expansion of renewable energy has gained in importance because of the high dependency on gas, oil and coal imports from Russia. FDP leader Christian Lindner therefore calls them “freedom energies”. Habeck wants to present the plans in detail in the afternoon.
Habeck wants to present the plans in detail in Berlin on Wednesday afternoon. No information was initially given about the costs. In the future, the money will come from the climate fund, which has just been increased by 60 billion euros.
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The Easter package is intended to change, among other things, the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and the Offshore Wind Energy Act. 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.
Better remuneration for electricity from solar systems on roofs
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.
It is also planned to provide new areas 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.
The requirements plan for the expansion of the transmission grids will also be updated. “19 new grid expansion projects will be included and 17 grid expansion projects will be changed.”
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 closely.” Just this week, Habeck and Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) presented key points for an environmentally compatible expansion of wind power.
Changes could come into effect as early as July 1st
The government’s plans still have to go through the Bundestag. The changes are expected to come into effect as early as July 1st.
The FDP, however, has already requested improvements. Group leader Christian Dürr spoke to the dpa news agency about a “first step in the right direction”. FDP parliamentary group leader Lukas Köhler said: “We have to use the upcoming consultations to make significant improvements to the previous draft in the sense of the joint coalition agreement between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP.”
Further climate protection measures had been announced for the in 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 also controversial.
Germany, which is still heavily dependent on gas and oil supplies from Russia, is expected to be climate neutral overall by 2045. That is why Habeck has promised to triple the pace of climate protection.
However, Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions increased significantly again last year. The building and transport sectors did not meet their targets, unlike industry and agriculture.
With agency material.
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