The German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) and the German Steel Federation (WV Stahl) are calling on the German government to organise a transformation summit. This is essential in order to analyse the situation following the Karlsruhe ruling and to secure the path to a climate-neutral future.
The judgement of the constitutional court ruled that the transfer of 60 billion euros to the Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF) was unconstitutional and has consequences above all for the future framework conditions for transformation investments. According to the two associations, the financing of the green transformation of the industrial location as a whole is significantly jeopardised as a result.
Bernhard Osburg, President of the German Steel Federation, is calling for clarity on the following questions in particular:
- What is the future of European IPCEI funding? Only six out of 45 projects have been approved so far. In the case of 25 projects, the early start of measures has been authorised and investments have begun in the confidence that the funding will then be approved and paid out via the national budgets.
- What does this mean for electricity prices? The goal of competitive electricity prices must be maintained.
- What will happen with the climate protection agreements?
- What will happen with the hydrogen ramp-up and the necessary infrastructure?
- What will happen with investment aid for the transformation, which is a lever for private investment?
Companies must have planning and investment security in Germany as quickly as possible, otherwise there is a risk of investment in the transformation coming to a standstill. This would have far-reaching consequences for climate protection targets, the competitiveness of the business location and for employment, warns Osburg.
Call for a sustainable industrial strategy
Solutions should not only be based on budgetary considerations, but should above all be geared towards economic and location policy. The joint press release also states that the federal-state pact to speed up planning and authorisation procedures must be implemented promptly.
Dr Simone Peter, President of the German Renewable Energy Federation, explains: “The renewables industry in Germany needs key raw materials such as steel and industry needs an affordable and reliable energy supply. This is only possible with 100 percent renewable energy for electricity, heat and molecules. Renewables also take into account the earlier judgement of the Federal Constitutional Court that the Federal Government is obliged to achieve the climate neutrality target. Investors for renewables are available across all sectors, including storage and green hydrogen. We now need clarity on the pace of expansion, the guard rails of a new electricity market, but also on strengthening European value creation. Resilience and climate neutrality are the guard rails for a sustainable industrial strategy.”
The heads of the two associations are jointly calling for the German government to convene a transformation summit before the end of the year. The pact agreed by the federal and state governments to accelerate the removal of regulatory hurdles and obstacles in order to simplify authorisation procedures and reduce bureaucracy must also be implemented in the new year.
