Germany shares out renewable costs among firms

Germany plans to share out the cost of renewable energy subsidies among big energy users to take the weight of consumer energy bills. The German Environment Minister Peter Altmaier (pictured) […]

Germany plans to share out the cost of renewable energy subsidies among big energy users to take the weight of consumer energy bills.

The German Environment Minister Peter Altmaier (pictured) reportedly wants to counter the huge cost of the country’s “Energiewende”, or energy revolution. The shift away from nuclear power towards renewable energy was prompted by a hardening of public opinion against nuclear after Japan’s Fukushima nuclear crisis in 2011.

Mr Altmaier plans to freeze the amount of subsidy given to renewable energy providers until 2014 in legislation, while forcing larger energy users to take on more of the cost, according to reports.

The change to the existing Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) could be passed as soon as August this year.

The German Minister tweeted on Monday: “Happy about great support of my current price limit proposals. Energy revolution will succeed only if power remains permanently affordable.”

German energy and water trade body BDEW called the proposals “courageous” and were headed in the “right direction”. Hildegard Müller, Chairman of the Executive Board of BDEW warned against politicians to avoid “tactical” votes ahead of the general election in Autumn.

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