The German Renewable Energy Association (BEE) has criticised a decision by the government to postpone an amendment to the country’s renewable energy law (EEG) until the second half of this year.

BEE president Simone Peter (pictured) said: “The announced postponement of an EEG amendment to autumn shows the continued inability of the Coalition to act on important energy policy decisions."

Peter made the comments following the announcement by the government that changes to the EEG would not occur before the summer.

Peter said: “This standstill continues to have a negative impact on important future sectors of our industry, including the loss of tens of thousands of jobs in the wind industry due to lack of permits and the reluctance to invest in the solar industry.

“In order to create new opportunities within the energy transition, the EEG urgently requires regulations that strengthen the further expansion of renewable energy.

“An acceleration of the energy transition could contribute to economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis.”

She urged the federal government to remove caps and hurdles without “great effort”, and also use the "small EEG amendment", up for vote, to advance the expansion of renewables.

Peter said: “We should now take the opportunity to fully exploit the advantage of renewable energy in all sectors, including heating, mobility and industry.

“It is urgently necessary to make appropriate changes to the EEG as soon as possible.

In return, the share of coal electricity in the network should be reduced and the coal phase-out should therefore be brought forward.

“This not only increases the market value of renewables and lowers the EEG surcharge, but also allows faster entry into a new market design based on renewable energies.”