The German Environmental Aid (DUH) and the energy cooperative Green Planet Energy have filed a formal complaint in Brussels against one of the federal government’s most crucial energy policy initiatives, as reported by the “Handelsblatt.”
According to Carolin Dähling of Green Planet Energy, the official complaint argues that while minor adjustments have been made to the legislation, it remains tailor-made for gas-fired power plants and completely lacks technological openness. The law, introduced by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche (CDU), is criticized for favoring fossil technologies instead of enabling fair competition for the cheapest and most climate-friendly energy solutions. Dähling stated that the groups are demanding a thorough review process, urging the EU to scrutinize the matter closely. Constantin Zerger of the DUH added that the current draft appears rushed and that this is the final opportunity to prevent the law’s implementation.
The new Electricity Supply Security and Capacity Act (StromVKG) is intended to incentivize the construction of plants capable of supplying electricity whenever renewable energy sources alone cannot meet the demand. CDU Minister Reiche is heavily focusing on gas power plants within this framework. The initial tenders, where operators can apply for state funding for construction, are scheduled to begin in September. Under the scheme, power stations will be paid not only for the electricity they generate but also for their readiness to step in during periods of low power generation. Critics, however, consistently argue that battery storage systems are being massively disadvantaged by the current design.
