Legal sources on renewable energy

Germany: Overview of legal framework

Overview of promotion system

In Germany, the most important legal framework for electricity from renewable sources is the Act on Granting Priority to Renewable Energy Sources (EEG). As laid down in the EEG, operators of plants generating electricity from renewable energy sources are legally entitled to a fixed compensation for electricity fed into the grid to be paid by the grid operator.

Overview of access to the grid

In Germany, systems for the generation of electricity from renewable sources shall be preferentially connected to the grid. Furthermore, grid operators are obliged to give priority to electricity from renewable sources when purchasing and transmitting electricity. Moreover, those interested in feeding in electricity may claim from the grid operator the expansion of the grid. These special provisions are laid down by the Act on Granting Priority to Renewable Energy Sources (EEG). Further general provisions on energy are stipulated by the Energy Industry Act (EnWG).