Energy - Habeck: Industrial electricity prices should go down further
Federal Economic Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) has promised relief to energy-intensive industries such as the glass industry. During a visit to Ardagh Glas GmbH glassworks in Obernkirchen, Lower Saxony, Habeck made it clear that electricity prices have significantly decreased since strong price increases following the Russian attack on Ukraine. "But we need to go even lower."
This can be achieved through the expansion of renewable energies, which will lower the electricity price, and a market design that allows energy-intensive companies to purchase this electricity affordably. However, there is a need for action in terms of relieving customers from network fees - these pay for the power grids. The relief measures are running as industrial political support measures. The EU Commission is likely not to approve this. The German government is working on other possibilities.
Electricity instead of Gas
At Ardagh's Obernkirchen glassworks, a new melting furnace has been in operation since last November, which is mainly operated with electricity instead of the usual predominantly with natural gas. According to company statements, CO2 emissions are significantly reduced as a result.
Jens Schaefer, the managing director, said that operating the melting furnace with electricity is more expensive than with gas. Price reliefs for electricity are necessary. Otherwise, increasing amounts of cheap glass from abroad, which is not decarbonized, will come to Germany.
Ardagh Glass Packaging produces over ten million glass containers daily in eight German glassworks for use in the food and beverage industry and the pharmaceutical industry.
- Despite the decrease in electricity prices in Germany, as mentioned by Federal Economic Minister Robert Habeck, he emphasized the need for further reductions to support energy-intensive industries, such as the glass industry in Lower Saxony.
- The European Union Commission may not approve the relief measures aimed at lowering electricity prices for energy-intensive companies, forcing the Federal government to explore alternative solutions.
- Ardagh Glas GmbH, located in Obernkirchen, Lower Saxony, has implemented a melting furnace that mainly operates with electricity instead of natural gas, which is more expensive but reduces CO2 emissions significantly.
- Jens Schaefer, the managing director of Ardagh Glass Packaging, which operates eight glassworks in Germany, highlighted the necessity of price reliefs for electricity to compete with increasing amounts of cheap, non-decarbonized glass imports from abroad.
