Germany gets EU nod to tender more solar, onshore wind in 2022

The European Commission (EC) has approved the plan of the German government to increase the solar and onshore wind power capacity that will be auctioned under the country's Renewable Energy Act in 2022 by 4.1 GW and 2.1 GW, respectively.

However, the Commission has reserved the right to make a final decision for the third round of the solar tender after observing the competition on the market, the German Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection said on Wednesday.

The decision for the higher targets was made in the spring and raises the total volumes to be tendered next year to about 5 GW for onshore wind and some 6.05 GW for solar.

The EU regulator approved also a number of other measures taken by the German government in the spring when the Renewable Energy Act was amended. These include the financial involvement of municipalities in the development of ground-mounted solar plants, simplification of the tender process for photovoltaic capacity and amended rules for biomethane tenders.

The proposed measures will support the expansion of renewable energy in Germany and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in line with the EU Green Deal without harming competition, the Commission said.

The new German government unveiled in November more ambitious renewable energy targets that envisage reaching 200 GW of installed solar capacity and at least 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030 in order to speed up its energy transition and reach its climate goals.

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