Germany

In Germany the feed-in tariff is the instrument to support the RES. The criteria of eligibility and amount of tariff are described in the Act on Granting Priority to Renewable Energy Sources (EEG). To be eligible the feed-in tariff the power plant have to be registered in the “Register of Installation”. Also if the system capacity is over 100kW the additional system of remote generation regulation is required. The last one condition is form of selling. If the system operator want to sell electricity directly it shall to report this to the grid operator the start of the previous month. Moreover each technology have to met special requirements. Onshore wind farms are eligible without restriction if the capacity is bellow 50 kW. In case of larger systems the operator system have to proof that power plant will be able to achieve 60% of the reference yield for planed location. Offshore farms are eligible is are located in areas which are not covered by the environmental protection. Ground-mounted solar systems which are eligible if are located in territorial application of a formal development plan. Moreover all solar technologies have to report to the Federal Network Agency about system location and capacity. All hydro power plants (beside storage power stations) are supported if the building requirements is met and get a ecological status. Biogas systems is eligible only if operate in the CHP mode. In similar situation are biomass power plants whose capacity exceed 5MW. Systems with lower capacity may generate only electricity to receive support. Moreover all system operators have to met special fuel requirements. [54]

The amount of tariff depends from many factors e.g.: technology, location, costs construction. It is gradually decreased to force investors to reduce operation and maintenance costs through technological development. Onshore farms can receive from 5,02 to 9,20 €ct/kWh plus 0,5 €ct/kWh of system service or repowering bonus. Amount of tariffs for offshore systems is from 3,50 to 13 €ct/kWh plus 2 €ct/kWh of system commissioned bonus. Solar power plants receive from 31,94 to 43,01 €ct/kWh. Moreover investors whose systems generate energy for own use receive 25,01 €ct/kWh. Amount of tariff for hydro power plants is between 3,5 and 12,67 €ct/kWh. Biogas systems which combust fuel obtained from biomass receives from 7,79 to 11,67 €ct/kWh plus additional bonuses related with air quality (1 €ct/kWh), technology (from 1 to 2 €ct/kWh), generating electricity from energy crops (between 7 and 11 €ct/kWh) and operating in the CHP mode (3€ct/kWh). Biogas power plants which combust landfill gases receive from 6,16 €ct/kWh to 9 €ct/kWh and additional technology bonus (from 1 to 2 €ct/kWh) and systems which combust sewage gases also from 6,16 €ct/kWh however up to 7,11 €ct/kWh and the same bonus. Biomass power plants receive from 7,79 to 11,67 €ct/kWh plus additional bonuses: technology bonus (2 €ct/kWh), electricity from energy crops (from 2,5 to 6 €ct/kWh) and the CHP bonus (3 €ct/kWh). Amount are decreased annually to reduce costs through technological development. For wind technologies degression equals 5% for offshore systems and 1% for onshore. In case of solar systems which are less established technology than the rest, degression is statutory fixed. For the rest technologies degression is same and equals 1%. [54]

In Germany the grid operator is statutory obligated to connect the power plant therefore the system operator does not need to make conclusion. The grid operator whose electrical network is located the nearest to the power plant is responsible for connection (obviously if his electrical network fulfil technical and economical requirements). [54]

Regulation requirements in Germany are Renewable Energy Sources Act (the EEG), Biomass Ordinance (the BiomasseV), StromNZV, ordinance on the Further Development of the Nationwide Equalisation Scheme (the AusglMechV), ordinance on System Services by Wind Energy Plants (the SDLWindV) and ordinance on Requirements Pertaining to Sustainable Production of Bioliquids for Electricity Production (the BioSt-NachV). [54]

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