In order to anchor the energy transition internationally, some of the auctions under the 2017 Renewable Energy Sources Act are also opened for installations located in other Member States. From 2017, 5% of new renewables capacity to be installed each year will be opened up to installations in other European Member States (around 300 megawatts per year). The cross-border auctions will take place in addition to the national auctions.

The legal basis for the pilot scheme was the Cross-Border Renewable Energy Ordinance (GEEV), which previously only applied to solar installations and which has now been extended to cross-border auctions for onshore wind energy installations. Also, an additional model designed to shape the sliding market premium in cross-border auctions was introduced. The revision of the Cross-Border Renewable Energy Ordinance implements the requirements imposed by the European Commission in the state aid approval procedure for the 2017 Renewable Energy Sources Act. The aim of the cross-border auctions is greater regional cooperation, particularly with Germany’s “electricity neighbours”. The cooperation should clearly signal that Germany’s energy transition needs to be rooted within a European approach. The changes to the Cross-Border Renewable Energy Ordinance (GEEV) entered into force on 16 August 2017. More details about the revision can be found here (in German).

More information about the auctions held as part of a pilot project with Denmark and the outcomes an be found (in German) at: www.erneuerbare-energien.de.