Bonn, January 15, 2020. The Grüner Strom Label e.V. and its supporting associations have decided to support the continued operation of ecologically sound renewable energy plants (RE plants) after the end of their support under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). To this end, the association today published a position paper describing the key points of the planned support. Because even after the end of the twenty-year EEG subsidy, these 'post-EEG plants' will continue to produce clean electricity and thus make an important contribution to the energy transition.
As of 2020, more and more RE plants will no longer receive EEG compensation. After 20 years, their legally guaranteed support will expire as planned. Not all post-EEG plants can then continue to be operated economically. Repowering, i.e. dismantling the old plant and building a new, more efficient plant, is often out of the question.
"There is a risk that eco-power plants will be dismantled that could continue to supply clean electricity for years to come," explains Daniel Craffonara, managing director of Grüner Strom Label e.V. "We want to enable energy providers to use Green Electricity subsidies for ecologically sound post-EEG plants. Whether a plant is eligible for subsidies will be assessed on the basis of various criteria, such as plant type, size, location or impact on the environment. This will rule out over-subsidization and false incentives," Craffonara continues.
Energy providers who have a green electricity product certified with the Grüner Strom-Label commit to investing a fixed amount per kilowatt hour of green electricity in energy transition projects within two years. Among other things, photovoltaic systems, wind turbines and energy efficiency, e-mobility or educational measures are promoted. Both ecological and economic criteria are checked before the project is implemented. These criteria can now also be applied to post-EEG plants.
Support for a post-EEG facility can be provided in a variety of ways, including support for the purchase of electricity from post-EEG facilities, the purchase of post-EEG facilities, or other measures necessary or conducive to continued operation.
At the same time, energy providers are called upon to supply green electricity from post-EEG plants to their green electricity customers. This is intended to promote credible products and regional cycles: By purchasing certified green electricity, customers enable the continued operation of good green energy plants in Germany and then receive their certified green electricity from precisely these plants in the future.
Over the past 20 years, the Grüner Strom-Label funding system has enabled more than 1,300 energy transition projects to be co-financed and implemented with around 65 million euros. The funding rate is on average about one fifth; the total investment amounts to more than 360 million euros.
The position paper 'Promotion of Post-EEG Plants in Green Electricity Certification' can be found at: https://www.gruenerstromlabel.de//aktuelles/post-eeg-anlagenfoerderung/
Keywords
Post-EEG, EEG, renewable energies, energy transition, green electricity
About Grüner Strom Label e.V.
The Grüner Strom Label e.V. certifies green energy products. The association awards two seals of approval for this purpose: the Grüner Strom-Label for green electricity with added value and the Grünes Gas-Label for environmentally compatible biogas. The association is backed by non-profit environmental and consumer associations and peace organizations, including NABU, BUND, EUROSOLAR and the Verbraucher Initiative. Grüner Storm-Label or Grünes Gas-Label are the only seals of approval for green electricity and biogas in Germany that are supported and recommended by leading environmental associations. www.gruenerstromlabel.de
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Christian Knops
Green Gas Certification Manager