The Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Manuela Schwesig, has called for greater clarity regarding Germany’s electricity needs and cautioned against delays in ongoing grid expansion projects.
Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” Schwesig emphasized the need for a comprehensive energy plan. “We decided at the last Minister-President conference with the Federal Chancellor, at the suggestion of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, that an energy plan should be drawn up. We need to know precisely what volumes of electricity will be needed, when and where in the coming years and how it will reach those locations.
This assessment is deemed crucial for effectively managing the expansion of renewable energy sources. The regional government is supporting the Federal Government’s initiative to conduct such a stocktake. A key concern is preventing this process from restarting planning procedures already underway. A priority for the northern region is facilitating consumption at advantageous rates, allowing energy to be utilized closer to its generation point.
Addressing the possibility of revisiting the use of overhead power lines for the construction of major transmission networks, Schwesig noted that delays in grid expansion initiatives in recent years were largely attributable to resistance from southern German states, which insisted on underground cabling as a condition for progress.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Katheine Reiche, is expected to present a monitoring report on the energy transition by the end of August. This report will provide insight into current electricity requirements and the status of grid expansion efforts.