press releases

Regardless of billion-euro investments, power station construction cannot be proclaimed fine

Sector intends to invest 60 billion Euros in 84 electricity generating plants / Electricity consumption decreased and natural gas consumption rose at the beginning of 2012

Hanover, 23 April 2012 - The German energy sector wants to invest in the construction and modernisation of 84 major electricity generating plants as shown by the new power station list presented at the beginning of the 2012 Hanover Fair by the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft - BDEW). The plants in question have a capacity of more than 20 Megawatt. They are already in trial operation, under construction, in the process of approval or in the planning stage. "Despite the well-known risks, the energy sector moves very optimistically ahead with its investments, particularly as far as the extension of large renewables-based plants is concerned. The enhanced ommitment, such as to offshore plants and pumped-storage power stations, is a positive signal showing the sector’s capital expenditure in the future energy supply. However, this must not obscure the fact that the plans for renewables-based plants also come across obstacles in the same way as coal and gas-fired power stations. Some plans concerning conventional power stations seem to have been put on ice", Hildegard Müller, Chairperson of the BDEW General Executive Management Board declared.    more...

German Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Environment Agency report high drinking water quality

99 percent of strict legal rules are observed – BDEW: Capital expenditure of the water industry ensures high quality

The German Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Environment Agency have presented today the latest report about drinking water quality in Germany. "The report shows that drinking water in Germany has a good to very good quality throughout the country. High investments in water supply facilities, grids and drinking water resources protection essentially contribute to this success", Martin Weyand, General Executive Manager Water/Wastewater of the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft - BDEW) said today in Berlin. After verification of the data submitted by the German Federal Laender for the period under review from 2008 to 2010, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Environment Agency established that drinking water in Germany accordingly has a good to very good quality. Controls confirm that micro-biological and chemical quality parameters meet the strict legal requirements at 99 percent and limit values are exceeded only in a few exceptional cases.    more...

Renewables’ growth increases pressure for action

Electricity consumption remained stable in 2011 – Electricity generation decreased / Müller: High utilisation of market premium is pleasant but not surprising

In 2011, electricity consumption in Germany remained stable. Compared to the previous year, electricity generation slightly decreased. This was the result of first estimations of the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft - BDEW) for the year 2011. The positive trend in terms of the development of renewable energies has continued during the past year: With a generation of approximately 8.5 billion kilowatt-hours from wind energy plants, December 2011 was the most successful month in terms of wind power since this electricity generation technology has been used in Germany. According to BDEW data for 2011, the share of renewable energies in electricity generation amounted to more than 20 percent. "Though the strong development of renewable energies is pleasing, it simultaneously increases the pressure for action with regard to grid development, acceptance of responsibility for the system and market integration of renewables. It is no longer sufficient to take only the quantitative success of development into consideration. Renewable energies must assume responsibility for the system. The market premium introduced at the beginning of this year is a first, right step", Hildegard Müller, Chairwoman of the BDEW General Executive Management Board underlined.    more...

Liberalisation must be implemented throughout the EU

Energy sector criticises growing State interference in the energy market / Müller: Politicians should renew their commitment to competition in 2012

The German energy sector makes an appeal to politicians to renew in 2012 its commitment to competition in the energy market and to advance its completion throughout the EU Member States. "Germany’s energy market shows a great variety which is unparalleled in Europe. The EU Commission has attributed a role model function to the German energy market. Regrettably, electricity and gas prices are still regulated in many EU Member States by caps determined by the government and thus withheld from the market. Moreover, it is difficult for German energy suppliers to get access to the markets. Altogether, this leads to serious impacts not only on the energy sector but also increasingly on the German industry in competition. It is therefore about time to complete liberalisation throughout Europe and fully implement a free energy market," Hildegard Müller, Chairwoman of the General Executive Management Board of the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft - BDEW), declared on 6 January 2012, 5,000 days after the German energy market‘s liberalisation on 29 April 1998.    more...

New EU legislation on concessions not necessary

Existing rules on concessions are sufficient / EU Commission should take the European Parliament's negative vote into consideration

"The European Commission's plans (published today) on obligatory invitation to tender for service concession contracts would limit the freedom of action of municipalities and thus affect Article 28 of the German Basic Constitutional Law. Together with the European Parliament and the German Bundesrat we consider that the Commission's initiative is not necessary. The existing rules are sufficient. Already in May 2010, the European Parliament spoke out against an initiative in terms of service concessions across all political groups. We believe that this democratic will should be respected by the European Commission", Martin Weyand, General Executive Manager of the Water/Wastewater Division of the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft BDEW) said on the EU COmmission's Proposal for a Directive on the legal regulation of the award of services concessions published today. With its proposal, the European Commission omits the European Parliament which considered the law in force and the previous jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) as a sufficient basis for the award of service concession contracts.    more...

Responsibility is growing

Renewable energies become second most important energy source in the generation mix / Müller: Encouraging figures prove pressure for action in terms of market integration

In 2011, renewable energies have surpassed for the first time nuclear energy and hard coal in the generation mix and became second most important energy source in meeting electricity demand. The share of renewables increased to 19.9 percent in 2011. Only lignite had a larger share, amounting to 24.6 percent. This was the result of first estimations of the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft - BDEW) for the year 2011.    more...

German water sector discusses new European water strategy with EU top representatives

The associations publishing the "Profile of the German Water Sector" (ATT, BDEW, DBVW, DVGW and VKU) are prepared to enter into a European dialogue. On the occasion of the presentation of the "Profile of the German Water Sector 2011", representatives of the German water sector yesterday invited experts of the European Commission and Members of the European Parliament to an expert forum held at the Brussels EU representation of Lower Saxony (German Land). Under the title "Blueprint 2012 - a 'Fitness check' from the German perspective", politicians and representatives of the water sector had a lively discussion about the planned new EU water strategy.    more...

Production must be safe and compatible with the environment

Sector demands differentiated consideration depending on the subsoil and the areas’ importance in terms of water management

At today’s hearing of the German Bundestag's Committee on the Environment, the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft - BDEW) presented for the first time the sector’s position on the production of gas from unconventional deposits that was elaborated cooperatively with the companies of the gas and water sectors. "BDEW basically advocates natural gas production from unconventional deposits on condition that it is safe and environmentally compatible. We demand a differentiated consideration of concrete measures depending on the subsoil and the importance of the areas concerned in terms of water management", Hildegard Müller, Chairwoman of the BDEW General Executive Management Board emphasized.    more...

BDEW: Further development of benchmarking projects

BDEW: Benchmarking projects have successfully developed within the German Laender

"During the past few months, politicians have clearly rejected a control of water prices and charges by cartel authorities or municipal supervisory authorities and a regulation of the water sector. This agreement in terms of content between politicians and the sector also leads to the water sector's obligation to advance efforts for increased transparency with regard to water prices and to further extend our benchmarking projects", Wulf Abke, Vice President Water/Wastewater of the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft - BDEW) said at today's 10th Annual Meeting of the Water Sector in Berlin.    more...

Using natural gas potentials for the energy turnaround - remove existing impediments

Press Statement of Ewald Woste, President of the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft - BDEW), President and CEO of Thüga AG, Munich

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