German Associations Demand Removal of Regulatory Hurdles to Achieve the EU’s Climate Targets

• In December 2019, the European Union has published a roadmap for fighting climate change and environmental degradation. This European Green Deal contains concrete climate goals for making the EU’s economy sustainable
• In July 2020, Germany took over the presidency of the European Council and has the position to initiate impactful legislative and regulatory changes
• German associations are increasing the pressure on national politics to bring initiatives for climate protection on the way

Electrochaea, one of the leading technology companies specializing in power-to-gas solutions, supports the demands of the German Energy Storage Systems Association (BVES) on the occasion of Germany’s EU Council Presidency for a rapid adoption of the Renewable Energy Directive II and the Electricity Directive into German energy law. Energy storage technologies are essential for the implementation of the European Green Deal and the achievement of national climate targets. The measures associated with this – moving away from fossil fuels, expanding renewable energies, CO₂ reduction and sector coupling – cannot be implemented without appropriate storage solutions. However, energy storage technologies in Germany are still classified as final consumers in regulatory and fiscal terms; this is an obstacle for the entire storage sector and for Germany as a business location.

Development of the natural gas network as a long-term storage facility for renewable energies

Removing the regulatory barriers to storage technologies would also enable the development of the natural gas network as a long-term storage facility for renewable energy and the sector coupling of electricity, heat and mobility. Electrochaea has developed a corresponding process that converts electricity from renewable sources into synthetic CO₂ neutral methane with the same properties as conventional natural gas, and feeds it directly into the gas grid. This enables the use of an already existing infrastructure and the gradual decarbonisation of the natural gas grid, Europe’s largest long- term storage facility for renewable energy. To produce synthetic methane, Electrochaea recycles CO₂ from various industrial sources that would otherwise be emitted directly. Like natural gas, synthetic methane can be used in a variety of ways, for example to supply heat to households or as a starting product for CO₂-neutral fuels in the transportation sector.

Doris Hafenbradl, CTO Electrochaea: “A move away from fossil fuels and the expansion of renewable energies is only possible with efficient storage solutions that can be used at large scale and in a flexible manner. Germany is a very interesting market due to its high wind power volume. However, unlike Denmark, Switzerland or the USA, the current regulatory framework inhibits the use of the technology in Germany. Germany must not stand in its own way. Electrochaea therefore strongly supports the demands of the BVES. “

The demands of the Bundesverband Energiespeicher e.V.

• Against the background of the increasing share of volatile and growing decentralized generation, the energy system needs to be realigned and adjusted in terms of regulation.
• Existing barriers and burdens between the electricity, heat and mobility sectors must be removed.
• Energy storage facilities are to be anchored in the legal framework as an independent tool for making generation and consumption more flexible and exempt from classification as final consumers.
• Double or multiple burdens with taxes and charges on the use of energy storage and sector coupling must be eliminated.
• The requirements of the EU directives are binding and must be observed in the upcoming energy law reforms.

Source: https://www.bves.de/eugreendeal_2020/

About Electrochaea GmbH

Based on biocatalysis, Electrochaea offers a multiple nationally and internationally patented key power-to-gas technology, which cost-effectively recycles CO2 and at the same time produces CO2-neutral methane from excess electrical energy that can be stored and used as required. Industrial-scale plants are operating successfully in the USA, Switzerland and Denmark. Plants with a capacity of over one gigawatt are planned by 2025. Electrochaea technology was awarded the Swiss energy prize Watt d’Or and listed by FOCUS magazine as one of the most important technologies for climate and environment. A total of 28 employees work for Electrochaea in Denmark and at the headquarters in Munich- Planegg. CEO is Mich Hein.

Source: Electrochaea, press release, 2020-07-10.