Germany's energy supply in winter: Habeck has these plans to secure them
Created: 06/19/2022, 11:05 am
By: Linus Prien
After the gas supply from Russia was significantly reduced, there are new plans in the Federal Ministry of Economics to ensure the energy supply in winter.
Berlin - In view of the declining Russian gas supplies in the middle of the Ukraine conflict, Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck wants to take additional measures to save gas and make provisions.
The aim is to reduce the use of gas for power generation and industry and to promote the filling of storage facilities.
The federal government is providing billions in funds for this, as the
German Press Agency
learned from government circles.
In addition, more coal-fired power plants are to be used.
Habeck on gas consumption: Consumption has to go down, "otherwise it gets really tight in winter"
The situation is serious, Habeck is quoted in a five
-page paper that is available to the German Press Agency
.
"Gas consumption must continue to fall, so more gas must be stored in storage, otherwise things will get really tight in winter," they say.
The Russian state-owned company Gazprom had previously significantly reduced the flow of gas through the Nord Stream Baltic Sea pipeline in the past few days.
This was justified by delays in the repair of compressor turbines by Siemens Energy.
Habeck classified the measure as politically motivated.
The tense situation and the high prices are a direct consequence of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine at the behest of President Vladimir Putin, according to the Green politician: "Putin's strategy is obviously to unsettle us, to drive up prices and divide us."
The Ministry of Economics Minister Robert Habeck is working on measures to prevent energy bottlenecks in Germany over the winter.
(Archive image) © IMAGO/Chris Emil Janssen
Habeck on gas consumption: Security of supply currently guaranteed
In the past few days, the situation on the gas market has deteriorated, he explained.
The missing quantities could still be replaced, and the gas storage tanks were still being filled, albeit at high prices.
The security of supply is currently guaranteed.
According to Habeck, gas consumption in the electricity sector and in industry should now be reduced and the storage tanks should be filled: “Depending on the situation, we will take further measures.”
Habeck's measures against energy shortages: billions in credit to buy gas
Specifically, it is about the following plans: In order to secure the storage of gas, the federal government will soon provide an additional credit line through the state bank KfW in the amount of 15 billion euros, according to government circles.
This loan has therefore been discussed with the Ministry of Finance.
The budget committee should be informed in the coming week.
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In view of rising gas prices, the so-called market area manager Trading Hub Europe THE should use the loan to obtain the necessary liquidity to buy gas and fill the storage facilities.
The loan is secured by a federal guarantee.
Trading Hub Europe was created through cooperation between network companies.
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Habeck's measures against energy shortages: Gas auction model for industry
Habeck is also planning a gas auction model for the summer.
This is intended to give industrial gas consumers incentives to save gas.
In essence, it is about industrial customers who can do without gas reduce their consumption for a fee.
This is financed via the market and the gas would be made available so that it can be stored.
Trading Hub Europe, the Federal Network Agency and the Ministry of Economics want to develop a so-called gas balancing energy product for the auction model.
There is such a product on the electricity market to compensate for fluctuations in the grid. "Everything that we use less helps," says Habeck.
The industry is a key factor in this.
Gas is important not only for heating homes, but also in industry, as a raw material for production and for energy production.
Habeck's measures against energy shortages: Back to the coal-fired power plants
As already announced by Habeck, less gas is to be used to produce electricity.
Instead, coal-fired power plants are to be “more used”.
A law to this effect is to be passed by the Federal Council on July 8th and then come into force quickly.
At the same time, according to the paper, the Ministry of Economics is preparing a necessary ministerial regulation to set the "gas replacement reserve" in motion.
For this purpose, power plants that are already available as a reserve are to be upgraded in order to be able to return to the market in the short term.
Habeck wants to prevent energy bottlenecks: Filled gas storage tanks in winter have top priority
"We will call up the gas replacement reserve as soon as the law comes into force," said Habeck.
“That means, to be honest, more coal-fired power plants for a transitional period.
That's bitter, but it's almost necessary in this situation to reduce gas consumption.
We must and we will do everything we can to store as much gas as possible in summer and autumn.” The gas storage facilities should be full by winter.
That has top priority.
The current level of storage in Germany is around 56.7 percent, according to the report by the Federal Network Agency on Saturday.
The federal government's goal is for the gas storage tanks to be 80 percent full by October 1st and 90 percent by November 1st - in order to be prepared for possible bottlenecks.
(lp/dpa)
