Criticism from Sven Giegold on Reich's solar initiatives: potential threats to energy transition?
Germany's Green Party Vice Sven Giegold has criticized Economy Minister Katherina Reiche's proposed reforms on solar promotion, expressing concerns about their potential impact on the energy transition and rural space usage.
The proposed reforms, according to Reiche, aim to end subsidies for new small rooftop solar installations, obliging small solar system operators to integrate storage solutions and make their systems controllable, and making solar operators contribute financially to grid upgrade costs.
Giegold and other critics argue that these reforms could stall the energy transition and reduce solar adoption, particularly in rural areas where rooftop solar is vital. They fear that the end of subsidies could discourage about 60% of potential customers from investing in new solar systems, slowing the expansion of rooftop solar, which is crucial for Germany’s goal of 80% renewable electricity by 2030.
The integration of storage and controllability is intended to address grid challenges arising from dispersed and intermittent solar energy. However, critics worry that these measures could disproportionately affect rural solar adoption due to increased costs.
Giegold emphasizes the need for the federal government to improve charging infrastructure and ensure fair pricing, as per European law. He also suggests reforms in the networks and the electricity market design, specifically the implementation of smart meters to allow private households to benefit from low electricity costs.
Moreover, Giegold demands incentives to cover entire rooftops with photovoltaic systems instead of just small, self-consumption-optimized systems. He warns that Reiche's plans could lead to increasing uncertainty for citizens and businesses in the expansion of renewable energy.
Giegold also responds to Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius' concerns about the end of combustion engines, stating that massive registration numbers of new electric cars are coming from China. He emphasizes that the energy transition requires continuous fine-tuning but not a reduction in private solar expansion.
In summary, Giegold views Reiche's plans as a retreat from effective solar support measures, risking slower renewable energy uptake and complicating the energy transition while possibly restricting local renewable energy deployment in rural spaces. Reiche’s reforms seek to reduce public expenditure and enhance grid management but may carry unintended consequences for climate goals and decentralized solar growth.
- Sven Giegold, the Green Party Vice in Germany, has voiced concerns about Katherina Reiche's proposed reforms on solar promotion, fearing they could impede the energy transition and rural solar adoption.
- Critics, including Giegold, argue that these reforms, which aim to end subsidies for new small rooftop solar installations, may discourage 60% of potential customers from investing in new solar systems, slowing the expansion of rooftop solar.
- Giegold advocates for improvements in charging infrastructure, fair pricing, and reforms in networks and electricity market design to encourage private households to benefit from low electricity costs.
- He also proposes incentives for entire rooftop coverage with photovoltaic systems and cautions that Reiche's plans could lead to increased uncertainty for citizens and businesses in the expansion of renewable energy.
- Despite Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius' concerns about the end of combustion engines, Giegold emphasizes that the energy transition requires continuous fine-tuning but not a reduction in private solar expansion.
