After consultation with industry leaders
Habeck plans to present a solar strategy by May
03/10/2023 4:27 p.m
The traffic light coalition finally wants to get serious about the expansion of renewable energy. Federal Economics Minister Habeck is meeting with representatives of the solar industry. They are satisfied with the result of the talks and want to triple the share of solar energy.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck intends to present a final strategy for more support for solar systems by the beginning of May. After that, there should be different legislative packages, with measures that can be implemented quickly and more difficult projects, said the Green politician in Berlin after consultations with the photovoltaic industry. By 2030, 80 percent of electricity consumption is to be covered by renewable energies. In addition to wind turbines, significantly more solar systems must be installed for this.
The strategy describes possible ways to accelerate both the expansion of large solar systems, for example on agricultural or industrial land, and small systems on house roofs. For example, it should become significantly easier for private individuals to feed in their own solar power or sell it to neighbors.
Carsten Körnig, General Manager of the Federal Association of the Solar Industry, said the path was steep, but it was the right thing to do. He had “not yet analyzed the 60-page paper in detail,” Körnig continued. But it “is right from the headlines”. He sees the willingness to remove bureaucratic hurdles and create attractive investment conditions.
Industry representatives see a high willingness to invest
In just ten years, the solar share of energy consumption is to be expanded from a good 10 percent to 30 percent. He is confident that the pace can be achieved. The first stumbling blocks have already been cleared. In principle, there is also a high willingness to invest. In the past four years, private property owners have quadrupled the installed solar power output. Now companies have to make progress, they are the problem. Not even ten percent of commercial roofs are used for solar power.
Habeck admitted that Germany is too dependent on China in the solar sector. That must also change with the necessary raw materials. The Vice Chancellor presented a preliminary strategy to advance the industry in Germany, with eleven individual measures. Associations should now be able to comment on this by the end of March. The chairman of the conference of energy ministers, Saxony-Anhalt’s minister Armin Willingmann, spoke of a good start and a lot of encouragement during the deliberations.