In the coalition negotiations, the Climate and Energy Working Group has documented its plans for energy and climate policy in an eleven-page paper that is described as final. The version available to PHOTON is as of 5 p.m. on Monday. Agreement has been reached on many points, but many issues are still open – marked in red (CDU/CSU does not agree) and blue (SPD does not agree) in the paper.
The first disagreement can be seen on the very first page: the CDU/CSU insists on a “new start” for the energy transition, while the SPD wants to do without this term. Otherwise, there is broad agreement on energy policy and the individual renewable energies. There is a consensus that the expansion of renewable energies should be “grid-friendly”. The aim is for renewable energies to be “fully refinanced on the market in the long term”. To this end, a secure investment framework with greater involvement of market-based instruments is being sought.
In the case of solar energy, subsidies are to be “designed to benefit the system” in conjunction with storage systems. “We want to turn private households into players in their own energy supply.” Operators of existing systems should receive incentives for grid and system-friendly feed-in. The new provisions of the Solar Peak Act on the discontinuation of remuneration in the event of negative electricity prices and on direct marketing are to be reviewed. Registration procedures are to be simplified through digitalization and standardization. The dual use of land, e.g. for park, agricultural and floating PV systems, is to be made easier.
There is again disagreement on wind energy: the SPD wants to maintain the two percent area target for wind turbines, while the CDU/CSU does not. Opinions are also divided on nuclear energy: the CDU/CSU wants “a significant role” and research into small modular reactors and fusion power plants. In addition, it should be examined as quickly as possible whether it is still possible to restart the nuclear power plants that were recently shut down. The SPD rejects all of this, the entire paragraph is colored blue.
In contrast, there is broad agreement on energy prices. The electricity price for companies and consumers in Germany is to fall permanently by at least five cents per kilowatt hour. To this end, the levies and grid fees for all are to be reduced to the European minimum level as an immediate measure. Grid fees are to be permanently capped. Electricity price compensation is to be extended permanently and extended to other sectors. A special industrial electricity price is to be introduced for energy-intensive companies that cannot be relieved otherwise. The CDU/CSU also wants to exploit the potential of conventional gas production in Germany, while the SPD rejects this.
When it comes to grid expansion, the CDU/CSU favors overhead lines for cost reasons, while the SPD favors underground cables for reasons of acceptance. There is agreement that all measures must be based on realistic demand and must be coordinated with each other. The parties also agree that the smart meter rollout should be accelerated and simplified. Dynamic electricity tariffs should be strengthened.
Overall, the paper still leaves a lot of room for interpretation. It is clear that climate protection is being slowed down, even if this is not explicitly formulated. For example, the “agreed phase-out paths for lignite-based electricity generation by 2038 at the latest” are to be maintained. The goal of phasing out coal by 2030 has thus been abandoned.
