The cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel has approved draft legislation to speed up the expansion of Germany's congested power transmission grid – currently a serious hindrance to nation-wide penetration of renewables.
“Power grids are the backbone of the Energiewende (energy transition). Unfortunately, we are still lagging behind with the grid expansion,” economics and energy minister Peter Altmaier said.
“With the amendment, we accelerate [permitting] procedures without lowering environmental standards, for example for the protection of electric or magnetic fields.”
