Energy researchers criticize KEV replacement as insufficient
The planned Climate and Energy Steering System (KELS) is not sufficient to promote renewable energies and should therefore be supplemented with other instruments. This is what Swiss energy researchers are calling for.
Renewable energies should be promoted even after the cost-covering feed-in tariff KEV expires. This is because the planned replacement, the climate and steering system KELS, is no guarantee that investments will be made in renewable power generation. This is the conclusion reached by researchers at the Swiss energy research center SCCER CREST in a recently published White Paper.
Funding expires
The energy strategy stipulates that five years after the first package of measures comes into force, probably in 2018, no more new plants are to be subsidized via KEV tariffs. In addition, there are to be no more new investment contributions or one-off payments from 2031. The Energy Strategy 2050 envisages that the support measures for renewable energies will be replaced by the climate and energy steering system KELS, which levies charges on fuels and electricity.
Electricity imports instead of renewable generation?
However, according to the authors, this prevents the construction of new fossil-fuel power plants - but does not guarantee that investments will also be made in renewable power generation. Instead, electricity imports will increase. The researchers call for one of two groups of measures to be implemented instead: Either with flexible quantity instruments - such as quotas or tenders - or with flexible price instruments - such as feed-in premiums.
Both measures could be designed close to the market and implemented in such a way that it is possible to reliably control the total costs. Good design of the measures is crucial here. The research group therefore calls for planning to begin as soon as possible.
The whitepaper is available at www.sccer-crest. ch published.
