Eastern Germany does not benefit from energy transition - report

Aug 28, 2013 - Eastern German states are not benefiting from the renewable energy expansion as network fees in the east are higher and proceeds from wind and solar electricity are flowing to the west, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said on Tuesday, citing a study.

Green electricity generation in the eastern states exceeds the average level for Germany, but electricity prices there are higher than in the rest of the country, the study about the effects of the energy transition on eastern Germany has shown.

In addition, the eastern states, including Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pommerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, rarely benefit from the proceeds earned from wind and solar production as investors most often come from the west of the country, the study results revealed.

The study, carried out on behalf of the German government, predicts that electricity costs will grow not only in eastern states, but in the whole country. Households are expected to pay almost EUR 0.40 (USD 0.53) per kWh in 2020 compared with EUR 0.29 currently.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.335)

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