Overview of the 2012 Reform of the Renewable Energy Act

The German government adopted a comprehensive Energy Concept on 28 September 2010. A core element of this Energy Concept consists of the reform of the Renewable Energy Source Act – Erneuerbare Energien Gesetz ("EEG"), which was enacted on 8 July 2011. The Energy Concept plans a drastic increase in the share of energy produced from renewable sources in relation to the overall power production. Accordingly, the Renewable Energy Act 2012 ("EEG 2012") aims to increase the share of energy produced from renewable sources until 2020 to 35 percent, until 2030 to 50 percent, until 2040 to 65 percent and until 2050 to 80 percent. Furthermore the EEG 2012 pursues the objective to integrate this amount of energy into the electricity supply system (Sec. 1, para. 2). The EEG 2012 shall become effective on 1 January 2012.