In his draft for the electricity price brake, Habeck promises producers of green electricity a 20 percent surcharge on the state-guaranteed maximum price. Headwind comes from the FDP: One cannot skim off profits and at the same time increase subsidies.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck wants to expand the funding for wind and solar power again and is met with resistance in the FDP. The maximum values ??for the electricity purchase prices, which are guaranteed for 20 years, are to be increased by around 20 percent. This emerges from part of the draft law on the so-called electricity price brake. The green minister explained that the increase was necessary in order to restore the profitability of the systems in view of the recent sharp rise in costs for investment, operation and capital costs. The FDP immediately objected: “The FDP rejects an increase in renewable energy subsidies as part of the electricity price brake,” said Deputy Group Leader Lukas Koehler.
The construction of wind farms and solar systems is promoted by guaranteeing the operators a fixed purchase price for their electricity for 20 years. In the case of wind turbines and open-space solar systems, it is determined by means of a tender. The one who asks for the lowest funding gets the contract. However, a maximum price for the electricity purchase is set beforehand, which is now to be increased by 20 percent. Smaller solar systems on house roofs already receive a statutory subsidy, which is determined according to the size of the system. Here, too, the purchase prices are to rise by 20 percent.
FDP Vice-Köhler pointed out that the draft law also enshrines the skimming off of so-called random profits from operators of green electricity power plants. It makes no sense to increase subsidies for them at the same time, especially since the expansion of subsidies that was only decided in the summer is not yet in force. “A further increase in the EEG subsidy rates would make it even more attractive for producers to rely on the decades-long state subsidy instead of offering renewable electricity on the open market.” It is much more important that the planned levy on the electricity market does not develop into a brake on investments in renewables. “The FDP will campaign for this in the legislative process.”
