10-point immediate action programme
Monitoring and interim report by the German government

10-point immediate action programme
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As a first step towards implementation of its Energy Concept the German government has adopted the immediate action programme described below. The goal is to put this programme into practice by 31 December 2011. The German government will report on this to the Bundestag by 31 March 2012. Every three years, and for the first time in 2013, the government will present a monitoring report on the status of implementation of the Energy Concept. We will review how this monitoring process can be harmonised with the monitoring of the integrated energy and climate programme (IEKP). The immediate action programme includes:

Amendment to the Offshore Installations Ordinance (SeeAnlV)

The Offshore Installations Ordinance will be amended swiftly with the aim of “bundling” licenses and preventing a hoarding of licenses for offshore projects. In future licenses will only be renewed if investors provide evidence of concrete implementation steps (construction plans, financing plans, schedules etc.). Otherwise the sites will be awarded to other market players and concrete conditions for implementation will be imposed. The German government further wants to provide for a single licensing decision that comprises all necessary permits (concentration effect).
5 billion credit programme "Offshore Wind Power"

To allow investors to gain the necessary experience for the competent management of the technical risks of offshore technology, support must be granted for the speedy construction of the first ten offshore wind farms. To this end the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) will launch a special programme “Offshore Wind Power” with a total credit volume of five billion euros.
Grid platform

With a view to ensuring efficient electricity grids, the German government will enter into a dialogue with the most important parties (especially grid operators and the Länder) and develop the platform on grids set up at the Federal Ministry of Economics into a permanent forum, where the key stakeholders can exchange information and develop concepts to meet the challenges of grid expansion.
Cluster connections of offshore wind farms in the North and Baltic Seas

The German government will amend the relevant provisions (Articles 17 and 118) of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) to facilitate the collective connection of wind farms in the North and Baltic Seas to the grid (clusters). The establishment of clusters is necessary to allow for the connection of several offshore wind farms to a single connecting line, which is both efficient and environmentally friendly. Moreover, clusters help to achieve the goal of gradually establishing a modular offshore grid as part of the European grid.
Exemption of new pumped storage plants from grid charges

The German government will amend the relevant provisions in the Energy Industry Act to exempt new storage power plants, and in particular pumped storage power plants and other power storages, from grid charges for a longer period of time. This creates important incentives for new storage capacities in Germany.
Information campaign "Grids for environmentally sound energy supply"

The German government will launch an information campaign to strengthen public acceptance of and support for vital grid expansion measures. This includes a range of activities with the aim of better communicating the necessity of grid upgrades and their importance for the establishment of a renewable energy supply.
Nationwide grid expansion planning

In the framework of implementing the Third Internal Market Package in 2011 the German government will create the relevant provisions for coherent, nationwide grid expansion planning. A ten-year grid upgrade plan will in future be coordinated between all grid operators to lay a binding foundation for grid expansion planning.
Heat contracting in tenant protection legislation

The scope for energy contracting will be expanded, above all so that the potential for saving energy can also be efficiently realised in the rental sector. The German government will present a draft act to establish a uniform framework for heat contracting.
CCS

The German government will adopt a draft act on CCS in the near future to create a legal basis for testing the safe storage of carbon dioxide. This testing is designed to gain the necessary experience. On this basis, the legislature will then decide on the further implementation of CCS. The act will include high precautionary standards based on the state of the art in science and technology to ensure safe storage.
Market transparency agency

The German government will present a draft act on the establishment of a market transparency agency for wholesale trade in electricity and gas. The central agency will be located at the Federal Cartel Office and collect, compile and analyse market-relevant data on a continuous basis. The aim is to uncover potential flaws in price formation more effectively. This will strengthen the trust of market participants in wholesale markets, competition and protection of the interests of energy users.