The German government has launched important projects in the energy sector. In addition to the Carbon Dioxide Storage Act and the simplification of public procurement law, the approval of offshore wind turbines and power grids is to be accelerated. Furthermore, consumer protection is to be strengthened and the burden on companies and consumers reduced.
The abolition of the gas storage levy implements a project from the coalition agreement and the emergency program. This will provide relief for all end customers, large companies, and small and medium-sized enterprises. This affects around 99 percent of companies and all consumers who purchase gas. With a levy of 2.89 euros per megawatt hour, the relief for a four-person household will be around 30 to 60 euros per year, depending on consumption.
The law to accelerate the expansion of geothermal plants, heat pumps, and heat storage facilities provides for the following measures: • Planning approval procedures for heat pipes will be accelerated and thus placed on an equal footing with gas and hydrogen pipes. This will strengthen and support heat planning for municipalities and cities through a speedy approval process. • The construction of large heat pumps will be accelerated. They use geothermal energy, heat from water, recirculated air, wastewater, or waste heat from industrial plants or data centers. • The approval process for heat storage facilities will be clearly regulated, eliminating the uncertainty that currently prevails in practice. • At the same time, the procedures will be digitized and accelerated. Among other things, a binding deadline for the authorities to issue approvals will be introduced.
The law amending energy industry law to strengthen consumer protection in the energy sector and to amend other energy law provisions (EnWG amendment 2025) is intended to give impetus to digitization. As a result of the energy crisis, regulations are being created that oblige electricity suppliers who supply household customers to hedge against price risks. This will prevent excessive, non-market-driven price jumps, such as those seen in the energy price crisis of 2022/2023, from placing a heavy burden on private households.
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