Improving information on German laws and ordinances for Renewable Energies

The German Government’s most important instrument in achieving its ambitious extension of renewable energies is the country’s Renewable Energy Act (EEG). In order to adapt the allowances to the sinking market prices of solar energy and to gradually configure the energy supply system to the rising share of renewably generated energy the Renewable Energy Act is constantly being amended. With regards to increasing the share of renewable energies for heating the Renewable Energy Heat Act (EEWärmeG) envisages a share of renewable energies for heating and cooling requirements in certain buildings since 2009.

adelphi and the Independent Institute for Environmental Issues (UfU) supported the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) in providing information on energy policy issues as well as amendments to laws and ordinances on renewable energies to the public.

Focus of the project was the revision of the sub site on Laws and Ordinances under www.erneuerbare-energien… with regards to content and structure. In a first step the menu navigation and structure of the website were configured. In a second phase laws and ordinances, particularly the Renewable Energy Act and the Renewable Energy Heat Act were updated and presented for businesses, associations, the research community, public authorities and the general public. The legal texts were complemented by ordinances, studies and commentaries. In order to incorporate amendments and changes in the legal process adelphi and the UfU reviewed and updated the website content on a regular basis. In addition to changes in the structure and content of the sub site, the section "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQs) regarding the Renewable Energy and Heat Acts were fundamentally revised.