(Berlin) - Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (The Greens) presented what he called an “opening balance sheet on climate protection”. “We are starting with a drastic deficit,” said Habeck. “The climate protection measures to date are inadequate in all sectors.” It is foreseeable “that the climate targets for 2022 and 2023 will be missed.”
Especially in the energy sector, the opening balance is “very sobering”. CO2 emissions have risen again in 2021, the expansion of wind energy on land and at sea is at its lowest level in the last ten years, the completion of the power grids has been delayed again by further years and the electricity demand for 2030 has been systematically underestimated by the previous government been.
Ambitious schedule for the next few years
Germany should become climate neutral by 2045 and increase the share of renewable energy to 2030 percent by 80. Projections showed that without fast-acting, additional climate measures, the 2030 targets “will be significantly missed in all sectors”.
The opening balance is “the starting signal for work on an immediate climate protection program with which the federal government will initiate all the necessary laws, regulations and measures so that the procedures are completed by the end of 2022.” The traffic light coalition will present a first climate protection package by the end of April, with a second one following in the summer.
Immediate measures for climate protection
In a 37-page paper, the Minister of Economic Affairs presents a plan comprising many points. The “absolute priority” is therefore to expand renewable energies. This needs to be “drastically accelerated” and the obstacles and hurdles need to be removed. To the immediate measures include, among others:
- EEG amendment: The Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) would set the course for 80 percent renewable electricity generation by 2030 (in 2021 the share was 42 percent, in 2010 it was 17 percent). To this end, among other things, the tender quantities for wind and solar power plants would be increased. The participation of municipalities in value creation should be extended to existing systems. The aim is to increase electricity generation from renewable energies from the current level of almost 240 terawatt hours to 544 to 600 terawatt hours in 2030, i.e. by 120 to 150 percent. From 2023, the EEG levy will be financed entirely from the federal budget.
- Solar power: A “solar acceleration package” should “significantly advance” the expansion. These include, among other things, an improvement in tenant flow and an opening of the area backdrop for open-space facilities. In addition, all suitable roof areas should be used for solar energy in the future. “Solar energy will be mandatory for new commercial buildings and the rule for new private buildings,” the paper says. In photovoltaics, the installed capacity is expected to increase to 2030 gigawatts (GW) by 200 (end of 2020: 54 GW; forecast at end of 2021: around 59 GW).
- Wind energy: A “onshore wind law” is intended to open up potential areas in the short term. The distances to rotary radio beacons and weather radars would be reduced and measures would be implemented to make wind expansion more compatible with military interests. In the area of radio navigation and rotary beacons alone, the potential is four to five gigawatts. In addition, there is a potential of three to four gigawatts of power in the area of military matters. An installed capacity of over 2030 GW of onshore wind energy will be required by 100. If one also takes into account the dismantling of older systems in the next few years, this would more than double the currently installed capacity. For offshore wind power, the expansion targets for 2030 would be increased from 20 to 30 GW in order to then reach 40 GW by 2035 and at least 70 GW by 2045.
- Hydrogen strategy: The development of an efficient green hydrogen economy is “central to achieving climate protection goals and positions Germany as a lead market for climate protection technologies.” In order to achieve the market ramp-up of green hydrogen, the expansion target for electrolysers will be doubled to 2030 GW by 10. In particular, investments in hydrogen technologies would be financially supported through the rapid implementation of hydrogen projects within the framework of the “Important Projects of Common European Interest”, the establishment of further funding programs and through Carbon Contracts for Difference.
- National hydrogen strategy: The National Hydrogen Strategy (NWS) will be revised “this year” in order to launch additional funding programs. At the European level, the coalition wants to establish certification systems for green hydrogen. The import of green hydrogen plays a central role. Existing measures such as “H2Global” would be further developed. In addition, they are committed to the development of a European internal hydrogen market and are establishing import partnerships. “The development of a hydrogen network infrastructure is a central prerequisite for a reliable and overall efficient supply of hydrogen, because it connects the customers (particularly in the industrial consumption centers) with the favorable locations for the production of green hydrogen (wind sites in northern Germany) and can be used as hydrogen storage Integrate flexibility and back-up components.” What is important is “good networking with our European neighbors, as we will import the majority of the hydrogen due to the limited area potential for renewable energies.” Suitable measures include the expansion of hydrogen transport networks and the priority use of green hydrogen in economic sectors in which it is not possible to convert procedures and processes to climate neutrality through direct electrification.
In addition, the phase-out of nuclear power and coal will be followed by the phase-out of the use of fossil gases. Their use to generate electricity will be gradually reduced and partially replaced by green hydrogen. Modern new gas power plants would have to be “operated with renewable fuels from the start if possible or built in such a way that they can be completely converted to renewable gases in the future” (H2-ready).
Photos
Federal Minister of Economics Habeck presenting the new climate protection plans. © BMWi
