Economics Minister wants to curb expansion of solar and wind power plants

Berlin – Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche (CDU) wants to curb the expansion of solar and wind power plants. "The expansion of renewable energies must be much more closely aligned with the expansion of the electricity grid," Reiche told "Bild am Sonntag." This will save money for businesses and consumers. Last year, Germany's companies and households consumed a total of 464 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity. According to the amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), this could already be 670 TWh in five years. A doubling to 1,000 TWh by 2035 is even considered possible. However, the expansion of the necessary transmission grid would cost around 600 billion euros by 2045. According to information from "Bild am Sonntag," doubts are growing within the federal government as to whether this can be financed. "We need gas-fired power plants when the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining," Reiche said. This dark period often lasts weeks. "But even then, our electricity supply must be secure." Reiche wants to start tendering for the first gas-fired power plants this year. Support is coming from industry. Holger Lösch, deputy general manager of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), told "Bild am Sonntag": "The extremely ambitious and expensive planning of the energy transition so far must be more closely aligned with real demand and cost developments." BMW CEO Oliver Zipse also warns of grid overload. If – as prescribed by the EU – only electric cars are allowed to be manufactured from 2035 onwards, the power grid will not be sufficient, the CEO said: "I fear that we believe we in Germany will be able to charge every new car with electricity in ten years. But that's impossible." To make the German power grid fit for a 100 percent electric car share, "we need 30 to 40 years," Zipse said. It is completely overlooked that this will be very expensive.