The German federal government intends to supply the country entirely with electricity from renewable sources by 2035. Oliver Krecher, Parliamentary Minister of State at the German Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection, announced this on Sunday, February 27. He noted that such a move would not only benefit climate protection, but would also make Germany independent of gas, oil and coal from Russia. Krecher added that the corresponding amendment to the Renewable Energy Act (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz and EEG) is ready.
Five years earlier, the share of renewable energy should reach 80%. The relevant ministry has already announced that by 2030, the capacity of onshore wind farms will double to nearly 110 gigawatts, while solar power will more than triple to 200 gigawatts. In addition, subsidy rates for the installation of solar panels on the roofs of private homes should be increased, writes the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Due to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, official Berlin is preparing to completely cut off gas and oil supplies to Russia, Reuters reports. According to him, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck (Robert Habeck) does not rule out the continued operation of German nuclear power plants, although he considers this unlikely. Previously, it was expected that nuclear power plants operating in the country would be shut down before the end of this year. In addition, with regard to the escalation of the conflict over Ukraine into an all-out war, the phasing out of coal in Germany by 2030 is in question, as Reuters notes.
See also:
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Shutting down coal-fired power stations
By 2038, the German government decided to stop the use of coal in the electric power industry – the most climate-damaging transmission of fossil energy. Already in 2022, the total capacity of coal-fired power plants will decrease by a quarter. Those that run on imported coal will be shutting down at an accelerated pace. To curb brown coal mining, a number of German regions will receive billions of dollars in compensation.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
development of renewable energy
By 2030, 65% of the electricity consumed in Germany must be produced from renewable sources (RES), primarily aided by wind and solar energy. At the time of program adoption in September 2019, that number was around 43%. Among the measures to stimulate the development of renewable energy sources is to increase the material interest of local authorities in installing wind turbines on their territory.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Provide carbon dioxide emission certificates
Anyone releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere must pay for them. This is the meaning of the carbon dioxide certification system introduced in the European Union in 2005 for industrial enterprises. In Germany, from 2021, companies that sell different types of fuel to consumers will also be required to purchase these certificates. As a result, the price should go up.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Fuel price hike
The price of CO2 certificates, according to the government program, will gradually increase in 2021-25. This should lead to a gradual increase in the prices of petrol and diesel fuel at filling stations in particular. The goal of the government program is to encourage motorists to use petroleum products more economically and, eventually, to switch to environmentally friendly transportation.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Enhanced electric mobility
The German government has expanded and extended a program until 2025 to stimulate the purchase of all-electric cars and plug-in hybrids that charge from a wall outlet. Thus, the discount for electric cars up to 40 thousand euros has been increased from 4 to 6 thousand euros, and for more expensive models it is 5 thousand euros. At the same time, it was decided to install 50,000 new public charging stations in 2020-2021.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Increase taxes on airline tickets
Emissions from operating aircraft engines lead to global warming, so the German government is striving to reduce the number of flights, especially within Germany and Europe. One of the points of the climate protection program is the increase in the tax on airline tickets from April 1, 2020. In particular, from 5.65 euros to 13.03 euros when departing from airports in Germany on routes within Europe.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Railway tax advantages
The more passengers prefer cars, intercity buses and electric trains for planes, the better for the climate, according to the German government. One of the points of his program is to reduce the value-added tax on railway tickets from 19% to a preferential 7% from January 1, 2020, and, as a result, reduce their price on long-distance trains by 10%. Taxes lost to the treasury are compensated for by collection from air travelers.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Diesel home heating ban
Significant emissions of carbon dioxide occur when buildings are heated. In many German homes, especially single-family homes, heating systems still run on fuel oil or diesel fuel, and are often very old and inefficient. And the state is ready to bear 40% of the cost of replacing it with modern, environmentally friendly technologies. And from 2026, the installation of diesel boilers will be generally prohibited.
-
Climate protection in Germany: a government program until 2030
Low Energy Housing Support
The more energy-saving technologies are used in a building, the less energy is needed to heat it. Therefore, from 2020, the German government, as part of the Climate Protection Program, will provide tax incentives to all homeowners for installing energy-saving double-glazed windows in windows and for thermal insulation of walls and ceilings.
Author: Andrei Gorkov
.
