Editorial June

In our survey, the almost 300 members of our Cluster Agency’s parent association unmistakeably expressed their wishes and priorities for the new legislatures in Berlin and Hamburg. The prioritisation of faster approval and other administrative procedures by allocating more personnel resources and consistent digitalisation was particularly clear. Our sector is no different to other areas of industry in this respect – but it was remarkable nonetheless that 95% of respondents placed this topic at the top of their list.

In regard to federal regulation, two issues are at the forefront: more market impact on carbon emissions and significantly greater flexibility in the electricity (and energy) system. Going forward, our members want carbon emissions to be regulated in an allowance trading system with rapid reductions across all sectors – also in heating and mobility. This is the only way to create a level playing field with fossil energy sources. It is interesting to note that our members cite certificate trading ahead of carbon taxation by a wide margin. Moreover, our members want the federal government to create an electricity system in which the electricity market and dynamic network access fees activate flexibility. Smart market management is needed so that energy storage systems and flexible energy consumers in the industrial sector and elsewhere are incentivised to store or consume electricity when large quantities of renewable energy are available – with storage systems feeding energy into the system in return. Consumers reduce consumption when little renewable energy is available and electricity is expensive. The results are not particularly surprising, but still unexpectedly clear given the somewhat heterogeneous nature of our members.

Our members have also expressed clear wishes for the new legislative period in Hamburg. Their priorities are to build Hamburg into an industrial-scale hydrogen hub, to harness the city's (considerable) solar potential and to continue the rapid implementation of green heat supply in the city.

We are excited about the fresh stimuli that will emerge in the federal government and in the city over the upcoming period and look forward to supporting the initiatives together with our members!