Ecologic Institute supports the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) in the implementation of both the targets defined in the coalition agreement for the 17th federal election period and the targets under European law for the promotion of renewable energies in the electricity and heat sector. Ecologic Institute provides both legal and technical support with regard to upcoming comprehensive amendments of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and related statutory instruments, with respect to the production, processing and feed-in of biogas / biomethane, regarding the development and implementation of sustainability schemes for energetically used biomass, and with regard to the evaluation and further advancement of the Renewable Energies Heat Act.

Background:

The German Federal Ministry for the Environment faces manifold challenges in the coming years 2010-2012 with respect to the continued advancement of the regulatory framework for the promotion of renewable energies in the electricity, heat and transport sector. Particularly the comprehensive amendment of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) due on 1 January 2012 and the market and system integration of electricity from renewable sources, the submission of progress reports to the German Bundestag for both EEG and Renewable Energies Heat Act (EEWärmeG), the national implementation of Directive 2009/28/EC and related recommendations of the European Union, the further improvement of the feed-in of biogas into the gas grid, and the further development of the sustainability regime for energetically used biomass form essential elements in this context. Considering their complex technical and legal interrelations and mutual influences, these tasks necessitate a comprehensive legal and technical / operational examination and assessment of the existing regulatory framework and of the amendments required.

Project objectives:

The following aspects form key components of this project:

• Legal and technical-scientific support of the BMU in the course of the forthcoming amendment of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG).
• Legal and technical-scientific support of the BMU in the course of the formulation or advancement of various statutory instruments based on the EEG.
• Comprehensive evaluation of the Heat Act (EEWärmeG) with regard to the further development of the regulatory framework for the use of renewable energies in the heat sector.
• Supporting the BMU in the implementation of Directive 2009/28/EC with a focus on electricity generation from renewable sources, heat generation from renewable sources, and the sustainable production and energetic use of biomass.
• Support of the BMU in the development of concepts for an integration strategy and suitable regulatory instruments in the field of electricity generation from renewable sources.
• Technical-scientific support of the BMU regarding the further advancement of biogas processing and feed-in with the objective of a most efficient use of the biomass applied, taking into account the potential role of biogas as a constantly available and adjustable renewable energy for future energy scenarios.
• Supporting the BMU in the evaluation and further development of instruments for securing a sustainable production and use of biomass in the electricity and heat sector, including constant monitoring and support of developments on the European level and globally in the course of the Global Bioenergy Partnership.

Tasks and contributions by Ecologic Institute:

In the course of this project, Ecologic Institute provides the BMU with extensive and continuously updated expertise both in legal and in technical-scientific respects with regard to all project-related questions on the use and promotion of renewable energies. The BMU can avail itself of this expertise in the monitoring and assessment of existing regulatory instruments as well as in the identification and preparation of amendments and of new instruments.

Ecologic Institute supports the BMU by providing the assisted units with legal and technical-scientific opinions, assessments and proposals in the form of expertise, memoranda or similar written statements and researched contributions to ongoing discussions. This is complemented by an intensive monitoring and evaluation of relevant jurisdiction and other decisions, analysis of regulatory measures in related areas of law and on the European level, a close exchange and communication with key stakeholders and experts in the field and constant monitoring of and participation in ongoing national and international discussions on the relevant topics.