The government’s plans for the grid should be made public soon, he told executives at the BDI business lobby’s annual meeting.
Habeck pledged to provide government assistance so investments could be made in the network, with green hydrogen – produced from excess renewables – a key pillar of Germany’s plans to decarbonise and reach carbon neutrality by 2045.
“A lot of what we’ve discussed is either in process or will actually soon be reality and able to be put into use,” he said.
At the same meeting, Habeck reiterated a commitment to limit the sting of high energy prices, aiming at a ceiling of EUR 60/MWh to 2030 for energy-intensive industries.
But critics said a long-term strategy would be better, with industries that did not qualify as energy intensive also calling for more aid.
Maintain operations
However, Habeck countered this by saying his goal was to provide a path for industry to maintain operations domestically.
“I think the money is well-invested, in that we keep energy-intensive industry here in Germany,” he said.
“It helps ensure that when this is over that there is an industrial base in Germany that I won’t let disappear and which this country should keep.”
Energy prices remain high by historical standards, with the Cal 24 last seen at EUR 150.50/MWh. That is still lower than last year, when prices surged to EUR 1,050/MWh in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Moscow’s decision to stop pumping gas to most of western Europe.
