BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Difficult negotiations are emerging within the conservative-socialist coalition regarding a planned energy package. SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch warned against stalling the energy transition, referring to reform plans proposed by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU). Speaking at the Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) congress in Berlin, Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn stated that no one intended to stifle the expansion of renewable energies, but emphasized the need for cost efficiency.

Miersch asserted that the SPD would not allow the expansion path to be undermined in any way. The target is for the share of renewable energy, primarily from wind and solar, to reach 80 percent of electricity consumption by 2030. In the first quarter of 2026, this share stood at approximately 53 percent. Spahn confirmed that the expansion target remains in place, but argued for a gradual exit from 'subsidy-itis'.

BDEW Managing Director Kerstin Andreae urged the coalition to pass essential projects, such as legislation for the construction of new gas-fired power plants, before the summer recess. Other central reforms, including a grid package and an amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), must be finalized by autumn at the latest. She stressed that energy policy should not become a bargaining chip or be conflated with other reforms, such as pension policy.

Controversial plans

Several of Reiche's proposals are currently stalled in internal government coordination, most notably an EEG reform and a grid package. Reiche aims to reduce costs associated with the energy transition. She seeks to better align the expansion of wind and solar plants with the lagging grid expansion to avoid expensive 'curtailments'.

Miersch particularly opposed a 'redispatch reservation' planned by Reiche. Currently, if the power grids are at risk of overloading, the output of wind and solar plants must be throttled or shut down entirely. These interventions, known as redispatch, are costly because operators are entitled to compensation.

Reiche proposes that new wind turbines or solar plants in overloaded grid areas should only be built if they waive compensation for curtailment for ten years. This has met with widespread protest. Reiche also intends to scrap subsidies for new small-scale rooftop solar installations./hoe/DP/stw