EU Energy Ministers agreed on the recommendation to continue coordinated voluntary demand reduction measures during their meeting in Brussels today. According to the recommendation, which sends out a clear signal that Europe continues to stand together when it comes to securing supply, the gas saving efforts of the last two years are to be continued to further strengthen security of supply. In addition, EU Energy Ministers discussed the current preparations for the coming winter.

The focus was also on flexibility as a major instrument for the energy transition. Demand flexibility and storage will play an outstanding role in the future electricity system in order to bring renewables-based power generation in line with electricity demand and reduce the need for fossils-based production.

State Secretary Sven Giegold said: "We need a European flexibility strategy to be able to tap the full potential of renewable energy. Europe needs an expanded cross-border electricity transmission infrastructure, a modernised distribution grid infrastructure and more incentives for flexible electricity demand via dynamic electricity tariffs and rules on fees. Flexibility in the energy system is key to low, competitive electricity prices based on renewable energy. If we shift consumption from the most expensive 500 to 1,000 hours to the times with plenty of wind and sun, electricity prices for companies and private consumers can become really low. We have not yet done enough work on this. The German federal government supports the flexibility initiatives taken by Brussels and will also take strategic measures to press ahead with flexibility at national level."

In the morning, the Energy Ministers of the “Friends of Renewables" group, which consists of 11 ministers responsible for energy and the climate, including the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, adopted a Joint Communiqué on the margins of the Energy Council.

  1. The group underlines the importance of renewable energy and energy efficiency for Europe’s decarbonisation and competitiveness. The European Commission’s impact assessment on the 2040 climate target shows that renewable energy will account for up to three quarters of the EU’s total gross final energy consumption and 90% of electricity consumption by 2040.

  2. The group welcomes the announcement by the European Commission that it will draw up a political framework for the post-2030 period. A clear and reliable legal framework at European level for the energy sector until 2040 is needed for investment security to advance the expansion of renewable energy and grids at the necessary speed. The group agrees to develop joint ideas for this.

  3. The group underlines the importance of investment in infrastructure, demand-side flexibility and storage to make the European electricity system fit for the high proportion of renewable energy.

Today, Spain joined the "Friends of Renewables" group after the country had played a neutral role during its Presidency of the Council of the EU. This was generally welcomed as an important political signal.

In addition, EU Energy Ministers discussed measures to maintain and expand, if possible, the European solar industry with representatives of the sector. Europe is highly dependent on Chinese imports of PV equipment. Last year, PV expansion in the EU totalled 56 gigawatts. In the future, the EU’s demand for solar photovoltaics will amount to 80-90 gigawatts annually, while its production capacities in the field of PV modules currently total merely 4 gigawatts. Along the value chain of ingots/wafers and cells, European production capacities are even much lower.

State Secretary Sven Giegold said: "We need to make further joint efforts also at European level in the near future to strengthen the solar power sector via targeted measures. Trade restrictions are not the right way. They would make the expansion of photovoltaics more expensive and slow it down and endanger the energy transition. The German federal government proposes European resilience auctions to complement national auctions and strengthen Europe’s solar industry."

During the Energy Council, Germany and France also agreed to intensify their bilateral cooperation on flexibility.

Roland Lescure, Minister Delegate for Industry and Energy, and Sven Giegold, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, said:

"Flexibility is key to ensure security of supply and to optimise the operation of the electricity system while bringing down electricity prices and strengthening Europe’s competitiveness.

Germany and France agree to jointly work on elements for their flexibility policy, including on demand-side response, batteries storage and dispatchable production capacity as well as grid infrastructures, aligned with our climate neutrality objective."