Oettinger calls for reform of Germany's Renewable Energy Act after elections - report

Jul 29, 2013 - European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger called for a reform of the German Renewable Energy Act (EEG) right after the elections in September, he told Schwaebische Zeitung.

This is a way for avoiding an intervention from the European competition authority, Oettinger said.

According to the commissioner, the next German government should launch a general revision of the Renewable Energy Act, which should then be approved by the European Commission (EC).

The act needs to create a link between the further expansion of wind and solar power systems and the development of networking and storage solutions, Oettinger added.

Andreas Mundt, the head of Germany's cartel office, is also calling for an immediate reform of the Renewable Energy Act, he told daily Handelsblatt last week.

The EC has launched an initial review, which is set to determine whether the exception of German energy-intensive companies from the renewable energy levy represents a form of state support for those firms. Such kind of state aid requires the approval of the commission.

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