“Germany mulls alternatives to green energy levy”

Germany’s energy and economy ministry (BMWi) is searching for alternative ways to fund the country’s switch to renewables, reports Nathan Witkop for Montel. The ministry tendered for a study to explore “models for the future financing of renewable energy” at the end of last year. “This marks the first official steps towards ending the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) levy,” writes Witkop. “An alternative way to pay for a rising share of clean power in the energy mix may resemble the licensing fees used to pay for public broadcasting, according to the tender.“

Ministry spokesperson Beate Baron told the Clean Energy Wire the tender was only a very first step of a long process that was still entirely open. “This does not mean we are looking for alternatives to the Renewable Energy levy – we simply look at the long-term possibilities,” she said.

Read the article in English (behind paywall) here.

Read an earlier article on the topic by Bizz energy in German here.

For background, read the CLEW article Germany debates form of renewables support as levy rises.