German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, a candidate from the Green party, has proposed reducing the guaranteed prices for solar power producers, as set by the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). According to Habeck, the current system is not market-oriented, as it pays the same price for solar power regardless of the time of day or season.
Habeck argued that this approach is not sustainable, as solar power producers often struggle to sell their excess energy in the afternoon, when demand is low. He suggested that instead of maintaining the current guaranteed prices, the government should introduce more flexible tariffs that reflect the actual market value of solar power.
Habeck also emphasized the need for a better storage solution, so that excess energy can be stored in batteries and used at a later time, such as in the evening. This, he argued, would allow for a more efficient and profitable use of solar power, even for installations that are not oriented towards the south.
In a separate development, Habeck criticized the Bavarian government, led by Minister-President Markus Söder of the Christian Social Union (CSU), for what he sees as a lack of commitment to the expansion of renewable energy. Habeck accused the Bavarian government of blocking the development of renewable energy, and of creating a two-tiered energy system, with higher prices in the north and lower prices in the south.
The German government, Habeck said, should take a more responsible approach, by promoting a uniform energy policy that benefits all regions of the country.