Feed-in tariffs for wind energy will be improved.
WWEA welcomes amendments and calls on further governments to follow Bonn (WWEA) – The German Parliament adopted today the amendment of the Renewable Energy Act (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz (EEG)). The amendment aims at increasing the share of renewable energy electricity from currently 13 % to 30 % in the year 2020.

It improves the remuneration of wind energy in onshore and offshore installations as well as for repowering projects. The amendments will be enforced as of 1 January 2009 and thus are expected to lead to a transitional slowdown of the German market in 2008 due to major shifts of wind projects starting operation to 2009.

The main changes in the EEG concerning wind energy are:

The initial remuneration for electricity from onshore wind farms will be increased from currently 8,03 to 9,2 ct/kWh. This tariff will be decreased every year for new installations by one percent.

There will be a special premium for repowering projects of 0,5 ct/kWh, under the condition that at least ten years old turbines will be replaced by new turbines of at least twice the original capacity.

The initial remuneration for offshore wind farms will be 15 ct/kWh until the year 2015, after which the tariff for new installations will be at 13 ct/kWh, to be decreased every year by another 5 %.

Further changes include new requirements concerning feed-in and grid management for wind turbines, new possibilities for direct marketing of wind electricity at the electricity market and stricter obligations for grid operators to improve and optimise grid capacities.

Dr Anil Kane, President of the World Wind Energy Association WWEA, expresses great satisfaction regarding the decision. “After watching with some concern the slow-down of the German market in the recent past, we highly welcome the improvements in the German legislation that ensure that Germany can continue its role as a locomotive for the worldwide wind energy deployment. We hope and expect that other governments will follow this important step and improve legislation for investment in wind energy. Such rapid expansion will be essential to overcome the current global energy crisis.”

Hermann Albers, President of the German Wind Energy Association BWE, comments on the amendments: “This is a turnaround for wind energy in Germany. The amended EEG will create new incentives for investment and innovation which will enable the German market to start growing again. With this, we will come closer to our 2020 target of 45 000 MW installations onshore and 10 000 MW offshore. Wind will then cover more than one quarter of the German electricity demand.”

Feed-in legislation and the exchange of experiences worldwide between delegates from at least 50 countries will be a major topic at the 7^th World Wind Energy Conference 2008 Community Power in Kingston/Canada (23-26 June, www.wwec2008.com). Matthias Machnig, Secretary of State of the German Environment Ministry as well as Hermann Albers will present the amendments of the German EEG and its impacts on the prospects of the wind industry.