Germany’s bioenergy sector calls for stronger backing ahead of Energy Ministers’ Conference

Bioenergy associations in Germany have called for urgent policy changes to ensure the sector plays a stronger role in the country’s transition to a secure, low-carbon energy system.

Speaking at a stakeholder meeting in Berlin ahead of the forthcoming Energy Ministers’ Conference, Sandra Rostek, head of the Hauptstadtbüro Bioenergie (Bioenergy Capital Office), said both the power and heating sectors required swift reforms to cut costs and boost resilience.

Rostek welcomed the federal government’s pledge to simplify heat legislation and to revise the Renewable Energy Act (EEG). She emphasised, however, that state energy ministers must actively support the process.

“In the long term, electricity and heat supply must not only be climate-neutral but also affordable and secure. Smart integration of bioenergy is essential to achieve this,” she told ministers.

The associations are pressing for immediate adjustments to the recently adopted biomass package. While the reforms will allow hundreds of biogas plants to operate more flexibly and support the grid, Rostek noted that not all operators could benefit from the new rules.

She argued that the forthcoming EEG amendment should give plant operators greater freedom to design their business models while providing long-term certainty.

A particular concern is the situation facing plants commissioned between 2004 and 2006, which are now reaching the end of their 20-year feed-in tariff contracts.

“Without appropriate transitional arrangements, many of these plants will struggle to meet the new requirements in time and could be forced to shut down, depriving the future energy system of their capacity,” Rostek warned.

In the heating sector, the bioenergy industry also sees significant regulatory obstacles. Complex and sometimes contradictory rules in the Building Energy Act and related legislation are said to be holding back investment.

“Instead of creating clarity and guidance, the current legislation generates uncertainty. That slows down the heat transition – something we cannot afford if we are serious about our climate goals. Heat law and its funding programmes must become simpler and more practical. Too many restrictions are currently driving up costs and delaying progress,” Rostek said.