Energy From Thorium Discussion Forum

The German Renewable Energy Law, which has been in force since the early 2000s is finally being challenged by the European Commission. Several German energy-intensive companies receive an exemption, which is considered unfair by the EU Commission.German households and small firms are not exempted and are effectively paying, with electricity rates of close to 30 eurocents ($0.38) per KWh, for the wind and solar subsidies.

From Reuters:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/ ... I620130714

Industry never asked nor needed unreliable expensive wind and solar power. It was one of the only sane things about that law. Crazy policy for crazy people. Industry is not crazy and was wisely left out. Making industry pay would sink the industry in Germany. Yet another fatality of the crazy nonpolicy of the Germans. How many economic fatalities will it take for the Germans to revise their stupid policies?

This could be another blow to German energy policy:

http://translate.google.de/translate?sl ... -1.1725328

The EU Commission wants all low carbon energy sources to be treated equally.

In this light, it is also interesting to mention Spain. The Economist has an interesting article this week about the failure of renewable energy in Spain. Like Germany, Spain has had an ambitious renewable energy programme, with lots of subsidies flowing around. However, due to the economic crisis, Spain was forced to cut back on these generous subsidies, which has led to a collapse of the renewables in Spain. This is also what might await Germany at some point in time.

The cost del sol (The Economist):

http://www.economist.com/news/business/ ... st-del-sol