Press | Umweltbundesamt

A new study carried out on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has determined that the current electricity market, which is designed as “energy only“, is ideal for the transformation of the energy supply system and will ensure secure supply of electricity. Capacity markets, in contrast, do not need to be introduced at this time as they harbour great risk of inefficiency, in part because... read more

There is still too much algae growth in the Baltic Se. This can be quite detrimental to its water quality, which is all the more reason why the people in the Baltic Sea littoral states are prepared to pay for its protection. Respondents in a study said they would be willing to spend roughly four billion euros to improve the ecological condition of the Baltic Sea. According to a new study carried o... read more

The EU aims to drastically cut the power consumption of air conditioners. Inefficient units will be gradually withdrawn from the market as of 2013. At the same time, the EU is introducing an improved energy labelling system by which consumers will have a better idea of how much electricity their units consume. Jochen Flasbarth, President of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), applauds the new EU... read more

Take one solar power system, add heat pump and make sure to insulate well. Voilá, you’ve got the ideal conditions for future-oriented, green building. The Vice-President of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Dr. Thomas Holzmann, believes construction at this standard is part of the necessary transformation of the energy system. “In terms of construction quality and technical standard, we are sh... read more

REACH, the European chemicals regulation, has made a positive impact in its first five years. The enterprises concerned have registered and submitted critical information to the European Chemicals Agency on some 5,500 chemicals. This will make it possible to continue to restrict the use of substances of very high concern in the future. “This clearly owes to the European chemicals regulation REACH;... read more

“More wind and solar energy can support economic development in North Africa and the Middle East and also secure climate-neutral access to energy for its population,” explains Jochen Flasbarth, President of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). He and Morocco’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Fouad Douiri, opened a two-day international conference on renewable energy in the Middle East and Nor... read more

Free certificates will no longer be issued to power plant operators for electricity production in the third trading period (2013-2020). This announcement comes from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), where the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) is also located. Some 1.4 billion emission certificates distributed to 1,814 installations will be allocated free of charge in Germany between 2... read more

Greenhouse gas emissions levels dropped in Germany in 2011 once again, as current calculations by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) prove. Emissions of carbon dioxide and methane in particular continued to decline. The greater use of renewable energies has had a positive effect on the emissions development trend. In contrast, the level of fluorinated gases, or so-called F-gases, remained largel... read more