Germany: Energy Representatives to Meet Angela Merkel

Energy representatives, including RWE AG (RWE), headed by Juergen Grossmann will meet with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel on May2 in Berlin in order to discuss the development of power plant-construction, a spokeswoman from Essen, Annett Urbaczka confirmed to Bloomberg.

The holding of the meeting was also confirmed by Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert at a press conference held Friday.

The decision comes in the aftermath of the announced halting of investments by EON and RWE amid delays in connecting their projects to the power grid. This also includes refusal to construct new gas-fired generators taking into account the effects of rising fuel prices and the second swing of recession in Europe.

The delays in grid connections are setting back the plan to transfer to a nuclear-free energy mix based on 80 percent renewable sources by 2050. Germanyis trying to have 25 GW of turbines in its waters by 2030.

Currently, the German government is tabling the possibility to increase financial support for the grid operators working on connections. As a result, the state may increase a program worth EUR 5 billion through KfW Group.

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Offshore WIND staff, May 01, 2012; Image: CDU