German lawmakers have amended the country’s renewable energy act (EEG), including extensions to permits for offshore wind farms to 25 years from 20 years previously.
The changes also include an option for another one-off extension of an additional five years.
The amendments will save €2.5bn over the life-span of the 7.3GW in offshore capacity to be put to tender over 2021–2030, according to VDMA Power Systems a subsidiary of the German engineering federation.
Changes have also been made to the rules for self-consumption of solar energy, with owners that upgrade PV installations only having to pay 20% of the EEG surcharge on self-consumed electricity.
The reduced EEG levy rate will also now apply to so-called “tenant power models”, which are designed for tenants of housing blocks that jointly use PV rooftop installations.
Germany’s PV industry association BSW Solar said the changes could lead to a revival of the country’s solar market in 2017.
The sector is expected to fall short of a government-set target of 2.5GW of new installations this year.
All the changes are expected to enter into force on 1 January.
Image: EWE
Berlin extends offshore life
Permits will now last for 25 years not 20 years as previously planned
By EBS