BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck has announced a "comprehensive biomass package". "Biogas can continue to play an important role in the future energy system," the Green politician told the German Press Agency in Berlin. "On the one hand, plants are part of heating or building networks. On the other hand, biogas can be used flexibly. In other words, precisely when there is little wind and no sunshine." The reform should also reduce the cost of receivables.

Demand ends soon for many

Biomass is energy produced from plants. This can be agriculturally grown plants such as maize or rapeseed or wood, waste and residues from agriculture and forestry. This can be used to produce energy in the form of biogas, vegetable oil or wood and pellets. In the first half of the current year, nine percent of total electricity consumption in Germany came from biomass. In total, around 58 percent was covered by renewable energies.

Between 2004 and 2011, there was a strong increase in biomass in electricity generation, explained a spokesperson for the Ministry of Economic Affairs. "Since then, many have been actively and innovatively involved locally, for example by making climate-damaging liquid manure usable as electricity or building heating networks." For many, however, the demand ends after 20 years, the interest in tenders for a subsequent demand is much greater than the supply. "Many plant operators and their heating customers are worried about their future. We see these concerns."

Compensation for fluctuating energy generation

However, biomass is "a limited and valuable resource" that needs to be used intelligently, according to the spokesperson. The idea: biomass should be used to compensate for the fluctuating production of wind turbines and solar plants, for example.

According to the ministry, the future requirement should give preference to plants that are connected to a heating or building network. Plants that produce flexibly according to demand are to receive more demand. In addition, money will only be paid for times of day when electricity is needed. And anyone who wants to switch from the old demand system to the new one should also be able to do so during an ongoing demand period. The proposals are to become part of the planned reform of the so-called Energy Industry Act./hrz/DP/mis