North Rhine-Westphalia has extended the progres.nrw programme until the end of 2016. The programme complements and expands existing programmes such as the market incentive programme or KfW funding.
Subsidies are available, among other things, for domestic ventilation systems/appliances with heat recovery and solar thermal systems. For the latter, however, only if they are not required anyway in order to comply with the Renewable Heat Act in new buildings.
In the case of PV, only so-called multiplier systems are eligible for funding. These include systems on ultra-low-energy or passive houses, particularly efficient technologies or façade-integrated PV. A subsidy is available for biomass systems if they are installed in conjunction with a solar thermal system. Subsidies are also available for highly efficient decentralised CHP systems for heat and power generation with an electrical output of up to 20 kW. Special energy storage systems and systems with an extraordinary degree of innovation or multiplier effect are also eligible for funding. This is decided on a case-by-case basis.
A grant is also available for residential buildings in the passive house standard including ventilation systems and for residential buildings in the 3-litre house standard including ventilation systems, as well as for studies on energy efficiency in which there is particular interest on the part of the state. The amount of the subsidies is flat-rate. For example, 4,700 euros are available for a passive house with a ventilation system.
In 2015, a total of more than 6,000 measures were funded under the programme. Applications for funding can be submitted by private individuals as well as small and medium-sized enterprises or municipalities. A total of 10 million euros is available for the programme in 2016. Source: progres.nrw / pgl
The new National Progress Report on the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda shows the state of sustainability in urban development in German municipalities. The report was prepared by the German Institute of Urban Affairs on behalf of the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR).
Berlin. Sustainability issues have become increasingly important in politics as well as in the public sphere in recent years. With the New Urban Agenda of the United Nations, there has been an international roadmap for more sustainability in urban development since 2016.
Through the New Urban Agenda, the Federal Republic of Germany has undertaken to submit a progress report on its implementation every four years. The aim is to document the areas in which German municipalities have achieved successes in terms of sustainability in recent years and where there is still room for improvement. In addition, it is intended to show what hinders the implementation of sustainability goals in the sense of the New Urban Agenda and the 2030 Agenda. The first progress report now available shows very clearly that in many German cities - regardless of size and location - the first steps have been taken towards a sustainable transformation. The report focuses on climate change and mobility as well as digitalisation as a cross-cutting issue.
The report and its indicator-based data analyses illustrate that municipalities' sustainability efforts vary widely. For example, some municipalities prepare inventories on the question of where municipal work can link to goals of the New Urban Agenda. Other municipalities produce detailed sustainability reports based on extensive monitoring of a wide range of indicators.
It is a challenge to try to do justice to this diversity of municipalities with standardized monitoring. Therefore, the monitoring process must be continuously developed in the future and embedded in the context of the sustainability efforts of the federal and state governments. However, there are considerable incompatibilities here - especially with regard to statistical collection methods and available data stocks. With regard to the cities and municipalities themselves, the first progress report on the New Urban Agenda also makes clear that it is often a lack of human resources that prevents municipalities from further expanding their sustainability activities. It also becomes clear that the different framework conditions - demographic, social, economic and fiscal - in the municipalities have a direct impact on the prioritization and implementation of sustainability activities.
Despite these methodological challenges, the systematic recording of sustainability activities in municipalities, as promoted by the New Urban Agenda, can hardly be underestimated. For in essence, it lays an important foundation stone for raising the awareness of the administration and the population for the important topic of sustainability.
A decision by Germany in favour of emissions trading for transport and buildings would be a special approach - all other EU states with CO2 pricing in addition to European certificate trading are opting for a tax solution.
Berlin (July 12, 2019). More and more countries in Europe and around the world are introducing CO2 prices. However, Germany would be taking a special path if it were to introduce additional emissions trading in the transport and buildings sectors. Other EU countries are unanimously opting for tax solutions. These are the most important findings of a new comparative study by the development and environmental organisation Germanwatch, which was published today ahead of the presentation of the special report on CO2 pricing by the German Council of Economic Experts.
"Germany is following a trend that can be observed in Europe and worldwide if the German government now introduces CO2 prices in addition to emissions trading," says Linus Herzig, CO2 pricing officer at Germanwatch and one of the authors of the study. "CO2 prices are already an important part of the climate policy toolbox of many countries in Europe and in the G20. So there is no question of a national go-it-alone."
It is also striking how few countries have opted for an approach based on certificate trading when it comes to CO2 pricing in the transport and buildings sectors. Herzig: "All twelve EU states that have implemented additional CO2 pricing instruments alongside European emissions trading have opted for a tax solution." In more and more countries, the socially acceptable design of their own CO2 pricing systems is also playing a major role.
Oldag Caspar, Team Leader for German and European Climate Policy at Germanwatch and co-author of the study, adds: "The German government should at least decide on a CO2 price in the transport and buildings sectors this year and - like its European partners - opt for a tax reform. We also strongly recommend that the German government accelerate talks with EU neighbours to launch a minimum CO2 price in the power sector as part of a flagship alliance of states." Positive signals for such an approach are now coming from a good ten member states - particularly France and the Netherlands.
The study "CO2 prices: an idea whose time has come" is the latest comprehensive overview of the currently developing pricing of greenhouse gases worldwide. It examines the countries of the G20 and the EU plus Norway and Switzerland with regard to the question of which CO2 prices have already been introduced and in which countries, analogous to Germany, the expansion of CO2 pricing is being debated. In doing so, it also takes an up-to-date look at the expected future development of CO2 pricing worldwide.
The study in numbers:
- • 45 states examined: 30 European (EU plus Norway and Switzerland) and 15 other G20 countries (4 EU countries and the EU as a whole not counted twice)
- • 39 of the 45 states surveyed have national or regional CO2 pricing systems was set up. This includes European emissions trading.
- Of the total of 19 G20 countries 13 have implemented national or regional CO2 pricing (including European emissions trading).
- Of the 28 EU members 12 states have national CO2 prices in addition to the European Emissions Trading Scheme. 9 of them in the transport and/or buildings sectors. All 12 states have chosen a tax solution.
- In addition to Germany, a total of 23 of the 45 countries are currently Debates on the further development or start of CO2 pricing. That is more than half of the countries surveyed. Some of the debates are very advanced, some still in the early stages.
Key findings of the study:
- More and more countries around the world are introducing CO2 prices. Germany would not be a pioneer, but would follow an international trend, if the Federal Government were to price CO2 now in addition to the current design of the EU emissions trading system.
- The international momentum for introducing and strengthening carbon pricing will most likely continue. A large number of countries are currently discussing the introduction of new or the further development of existing national and regional CO2 pricing instruments.
- The states are increasingly focusing on socially acceptable design.
- By introducing additional emissions trading in the transport and buildings sectors - instead of a tax solution - Germany would be taking a special path.
The number of CarSharing customers in Germany rose to 2.46 million over the course of last year. Above-average percentage growth was recorded by station-based CarSharing services. Station-based CarSharing also remains the backbone of the expansion in terms of area and is now available at 740 locations in Germany.
At the beginning of 2019, 2.46 million customers in Germany are registered with a car-sharing service, 350,000 more than in the previous year. Station-based car sharing providers are experiencing above-average growth with an increase of 21.5 percent. In free-floating CarSharing, customer growth is slowing somewhat and amounts to 14.9 percent. Overall, CarSharing in Germany continues to be on a clear growth path.
Graphic: bcs
Gunnar Nehrke, Managing Director of Bundesverband CarSharing e.V., comments:
"The positive development in the German CarSharing market over the past years shows: More and more people want to deal responsibly with the resource car and practically shape the traffic turnaround."
The association is particularly pleased with the strong growth in the area of station-based CarSharing services, as several scientific studies had shown in 2018 that this variant has a particularly high traffic-relieving effect. Association Managing Director Nehrke explains:
"In station-based CarSharing, 70 to 80 percent of customers no longer own a car. Cities and municipalities should specifically promote this variant by setting up CarSharing stations in public areas.
In connection with CarSharing funding, the association criticises the Federal Ministry of Transport: "Even one and a half years after the Carsharing Act (CsgG) came into force, cities and municipalities cannot practically apply this law in all points because the Ministry does not present the ordinances that are the basis for it.
Christian Hochfeld, Director of Agora Verkehrswende, explains the current development of CarSharing:
"It is important that CarSharing becomes visible and available in public spaces. However, CarSharing should not be seen as an individual measure, but as an integral part of a municipal mobility strategy. After all, the right traffic policy framework conditions - such as comprehensive parking space management and the expansion of environmental zones - can further strengthen the positive effects of CarSharing services."
Strong growth also on the supply side
20,200 CarSharing vehicles will be available in Germany at the beginning of 2019, 2,250 more than in the previous year. Station-based providers account for more than half of the supply with 11,200 vehicles, while 9,000 vehicles will be used in free-floating CarSharing.
In the "free-floating" market segment, 890 vehicles belong to combined station-based/free-floating offerings. This new form of offering is used by some formerly purely station-based providers in order to be able to offer the advantages of both CarSharing variants from a single source. New combined systems were launched in 2018 in Leipzig and Karlsruhe, for example.
Station-based CarSharing remains the backbone of CarSharing expansion
Graphic: bcs
Station-based CarSharing is currently available at 740 locations in Germany. This is 63 locations more than in the previous year. Pure free-floating services are currently available in seven metropolitan areas and a few surrounding communities of these major cities.
E-share stagnates at a high level, more e-vehicles in the fleets of station-based providers
Graphic: bcs
The number of electric vehicles in the German CarSharing fleet remained almost unchanged in 2018. However, there are shifts in the number of electric vehicles in the individual fleet segments: The number of electric vehicles in the free-floating fleets of car manufacturers remained largely unchanged at 1,025 vehicles. The medium-sized CarSharing providers in the station-based sector were able to increase the number of electric vehicles from 321 to 498.
On the other hand, the operators of pure e-car sharing projects recorded declines. Here, the number of vehicles fell from 431 to 304. This is mainly due to the fact that the period of public funding or the leasing contracts for a high number of vehicles expired in 2018. As the vehicles had not reached the threshold for economic viability, they were removed from the fleet. Gunnar Nehrke explains:
"The electric share in CarSharing is 50 times higher than in the national car fleet. This shows: The providers want to switch to emission-free drives. But the framework conditions are not yet right: the vehicles are still too expensive. And there is still no funding concept for the installation of charging infrastructure at car sharing stations."
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