Merkel says grid expansion “absolute priority” after elections

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called the expansion of the country’s power grid an “absolute priority” for the next legislative period. At a convention of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), Merkel said Germany was “lagging behind on all fronts” in ensuring that power is being transmitted to where it is consumed, thereby impairing the marketability of renewables. Merkel acknowledged the role of the European Union in advancing Germany’s switch to renewables, saying the switch to auctions might not have been achieved without European pressure and calling for the creation of a common European energy market. The Chancellor also told industry representatives that “we’ve bargained very intensively for industry rebates in Brussels". She said her government would seek to ensure that rebates will persist, adding that ongoing low investments by energy-intensive enterprises were a cause for concern.

See the CLEW dossier Vote2017 – German elections and the Energiewende for more information.