The FDP had campaigned on a platform that was openly hostile to Germany’s current feed-in tariff (FIT) system for renewables. Earlier this year it pushed environment minister Peter Altmaier to also adopt a more sceptical role and press for cuts in FITs.

With the FDP out of the picture, the immediate threat to renewables has eased significantly.

Merkel herself has said that Germany’s renewable energy act needs to be reformed fast after the elections.

But