The SPD’s energy policy spokesperson, Nina Scheer, strongly refutes recent criticism regarding Germany’s energy transition, which was voiced by the Economy Minister, Katherina Reiche (CDU). In a guest contribution to the FAZ, Reiche had called for an end to the German “self-deception”.
Scheer accuses the minister of making a mockery of the country’s climate goals. In her own piece for the FAZ’s Friday edition, Scheer points out that “CDU federal minister Reiche conceals that one-third of electricity cost components in Germany come from grid fees, and that the current coalition is looking for financing methods to cut the costs of grid expansion and overhaul from these fees. She omits that last year, subsidies amounting to 6.5 billion euros and electricity tax exemptions for industry were approved”.
She continues by stating, “Contrary to a resolution from the coalition committee that was reached months ago, Ms. Reiche has not yet presented final measures for an industrial electricity price. Furthermore, goals should never be misinterpreted as self-effective; they ‘require implementing legislation.’ However, apparently, that is not the issue here; rather, it is the flawed assumption that the mentioned renewable and climate protection goals are unattainable and that this is the reason for excessively high electricity prices”.
Scheer also notes that Reiche has not submitted any legislative proposals for a more efficient use of the grids. Furthermore, the long-promised power plant safeguard and the required draft law for it have not been presented to date. Scheer also criticizes Reiche’s apparent intention to significantly reduce support for green electricity, possibly by only compensating green power if it can actually be consumed because the grid has capacity. “Without dispatch-related compensation payments for unusable electricity, a considerable portion of renewable electricity generation would not materialize” Scheer writes. This jeopardizes billions in value-creating investments and the prospect of lower electricity prices.
Scheer concludes by asserting that any legislative restriction on renewables runs counter to affordable electricity prices and blocks necessary political positioning. “This is where purported self-deception should prevail”.