German renewable surcharge revealed to rise by 47% in 2013

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Ahead of the official release from the four leading German high voltage network operators (TSOs) next week, Reuters has released information that the push towards green power could cause the country’s renewable energy surcharge to rocket by almost 47% by next year. The article states that this is a reflection of the increasing amount of electricity from renewable sources, bought from producers at guaranteed prices above market rates.

The so-called 'Umlage' – charges levied on German consumers to support renewable power – will rise to €0.053 per kWh in 2013 from €0.036 in 2012. The renewable surcharge covers the difference between guaranteed prices paid for renewable energy and market prices for conventional energy.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Claims have been made that the surcharge will increase household power bills by more than 7% next year. “Together with a rising burden from footing the bill for the industry exemptions, retail prices might actually rise by 11% , which would be biggest jump seen in 10 years”, asserts the Reuters report.

Germany’s rapid move from nuclear power following the meltdown at Fukishima forced Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government to announce that it wants to maintain a solar “growth corridor” of 2,500-3,000MW per year. In an attempt to pacify consumers on rising household electricity bills before next year’s election, environment minister Peter Altmaier stated that installations would be capped at 52GW.

Furthermore, the German Federal Network Agency reported at the beginning of October that PV installations in Germany were significantly sluggish in August, with the country adding only 330MW of new PV capacity, compared to 612MW in August 2011 and 543MW in July 2012.
 

Read Next

May 30, 2025
Independent power producer (IPP) Aquila Clean Energy has started construction on a 52MW agrivoltaics (agriPV) project in Italy.
May 30, 2025
The US added 7.4GW of new renewable energy capacity in the first three months of 2025, with deployments and planned projects concentrated in Republican-voting states.
May 30, 2025
Solar and wind curtailment have increased by 29% between 2023 and 2024 in California, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
May 30, 2025
Companies delayed or cancelled US$14 billion in investments in clean energy projects in the US in the first four months of this year.
May 30, 2025
Waaree Solar Americas – a subsidiary of Indian solar manufacturer Waaree Energies – has signed a 586MW solar module supply agreement with an undisclosed independent power producer (IPP).
May 30, 2025
Spanish independent power producer (IPP) has unveiled two new solar-plus-storage projects, one in Central Chile and the other in Spain.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 8, 2025
Asia