German Solar FIT may be reduced by 9% on the 1st July

Solas Power has learned that a decision by the German Federal Network Agency as to the scale of the downward revision is yet to be announced, some predictions are that the final scheduled reduction will amount to a nine percent cut on July 1, followed by another on January 1, 2010.

Just last week German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Norbert Röttgen, announced that solar subsidies were to be cut by a further six percent as of March 1, 2012. This reduction had found its way into amendments to the EEG during the departmental approval process. However, reports are that Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a free hand to members of the ruling coalition parties during consultation, and the unscheduled six percent cuts were removed.

This morning the Cabinet of the German federal government discussed and approved the EEG amendments, at the same time deciding to abandon nuclear energy. The result is a phased shutdown of nuclear power plants in Germany by the year 2022.

On Wednesday, the Environmental Committee of the Lower House of Parliament will discuss the amendments to the Renewable Energy Act (EEG). Experts on the topic will then be heard during the public meeting. The law will then be discussed in the Lower House of Parliament and – according to government plans – is to be adopted even before the summer parliamentary recess. Approval by the Upper House of Parliament is not required for the EEG amendments.