German wind org calls for action against new nuclear power in EU

Germany’s wind power association BWE is urging the German government to take legal steps against the subsidisation of new nuclear power capacity in the EU.

The organisation’s president Hermann Albers today called for “fairness in the market”. He said that the planned subsidies for the 3.2-GW Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant over 35 years contradict Europe’s plans for a rapid expansion of the renewable energy market.

The Hinkley Point C station in the UK will be receiving GBP 92.5 (USD 145.5/EUR 129.) per MWh, which compares to EUR 70 (USD 79) per MWh for new wind farms in Germany. “It makes no sense to force renewables into a tendering corset while, at the same time, approving permanent subsidies for the construction of new nuclear power stations,” Albers said.

According to the BWE president, the decentralised onshore wind capacity in Europe will be able to fill the gap left by the shutdown of old nuclear and fossil fuel power plants.

Austria has already officially opposed the UK’s to subsidise new nuclear capacity and is planning legal action with the backing of Luxembourg.

(GBP 1 = USD 1.573/EUR 1.395)

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