Protective shield against carbon leakage: Everything important about electricity price compensation for the 2025 billing year – from new energy efficiency requirements to deadlines and the distinction from the 5-cent industrial electricity price.

As of: May 13, 2026 | The EEG 2027 is still in the legislative process and is part of the Network Package. The information relates to the draft bill of the EEG 2027 of April 21, 2026, and may be subject to change.

It brings profound changes for the energy industry – from capacity-limited grid areas to new market mechanisms in the EEG. While politics is focusing on more control and security of supply, criticism is growing within the industry regarding rising investment risks and a lack of technological openness.

The EU limits the direct reporting obligation to companies with 1,000 (CSRD) or 5,000 employees (CSDDD), respectively, in order to reduce bureaucratic hurdles. Nevertheless, smaller suppliers should also rely on standardized ESG data. This report explains why.

By July 2026, Germany must transpose EU regulations into national law, bringing about profound changes in the Electricity Industry Act (EnWG) and the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). The focus will be on transforming solar and wind energy support mechanisms to Contracts for Difference (CfDs) and the widespread implementation of dynamic electricity tariffs.

Flanked by the revised EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), the GEG aims for a holistic modernization of existing buildings. While the abolition of the 65 percent rule promises short-term relief, experts warn of a „cost trap“ due to scarce green fuels. Therefore, self-sufficient solutions such as PV and BESS are becoming increasingly important for a bankable real estate strategy.

Only those sectors with a high risk of relocation will benefit retroactively from the industrial electricity price starting in 2026. Since only defined consumption shares are subsidized and funds are decreasing until 2028, the expansion of self-supply through PV and BESS remains the crucial lever for permanently low energy costs.

The postponement provides companies with a breather in the CO₂ pricing of heating and transport. In Germany, this is likely to extend the transitional phase of the national emissions trading system (nEHS), offering short-term planning security at more moderate prices between 55 and 65 euros.

Central Capacity Market vs. Hedging Obligation: The former threatens to massively burden electricity prices with fixed costs. The hedging obligation model, on the other hand, uses competition and turns companies with their own storage into providers of security of supply rather than pure price-takers.

The electricity market will remain extremely volatile until 2030, with price ranges between 50 and €250/MWh. Companies are best protected against this uncertainty through self-supply and battery storage, enabling them to profit from favorable generation periods and avoid expensive peaks.

Although the Solar Package I has offered enhancements for balcony power plants since 2024, the EU Commission is blocking central subsidies for commercial and agri-PV. The reason is the dispute over contract-for-difference (CfD) mechanisms, without which higher remuneration rates and bid sizes (up to 50 MW) cannot come into force for the time being.

Due to rulings by the ECJ (2024) and BGH (2025), the customer facility privilege (§ 3 No. 24a EnWG) has largely become obsolete: Lines with paid electricity supply to third parties are now considered distribution networks subject to regulation. Operators of tenant electricity or area models will therefore be subject to strict requirements in the future.

The Federal Network Agency has initiated the largest reform of network charges with the „AgNeS“ project, aiming to make the system EU-compliant and ready for network expansion costs of €700 billion by 2028. The focus is on moving away from pure consumption prices towards capacity charges, as well as fair participation of prosumers and generation facilities in infrastructure costs.

A key component of the deal is securing a supply of raw materials: by 2030, 25% of demand is to be met through recycling, and purchases will be consolidated through a new EU center. The roadmap also calls for the establishment of an Industrial Decarbonization Bank by 2026, as well as new standards for the circular economy and workforce training.

While Berlin (+7 %) and North Rhine-Westphalia (+2 %) are seeing rising costs, locations in the north and east are becoming significantly more attractive. Companies should maximize their location advantages through optimized load management and self-consumption to counteract the general trend of rising grid expansion costs.

The new Power Plant Security Act aims to secure the electricity supply through hydrogen-ready gas power plants, but it comes with new financial burdens. Starting in 2028, an additional levy on electricity prices is threatened to refinance the multi-billion investments in the necessary reserve capacities.

The planned growth initiative foresees fundamental reforms to modernize the energy market through increased flexibility and a new support design for renewable energies. In addition to investment incentives for storage and power plants, the primary focus is on stabilizing grid costs and passing on unadulterated price signals to the economy.

With the „Net-Zero Industry Act“ (NZIA), the EU is strengthening its industrial base and accelerating the expansion of green technologies such as photovoltaics, batteries, and heat pumps. The new law creates a predictable environment through simplified approval procedures and strategic prioritization to secure Europe's global leadership in climate protection.

The CSDDD significantly tightens requirements for human rights and environmental protection, and for the first time introduces civil liability for companies. Learn why the directive goes far beyond the German LkSG.

EFRAG's future reporting standards will allow SMEs to document their sustainability goals concisely and credibly without being overwhelmed by complex sets of metrics. A voluntary VSME report will thus become a strategic advantage for creating supply chain transparency and securing long-term access to financing.

The BesAR offers energy-intensive companies the opportunity to significantly reduce their electricity costs by capping the CHP and offshore grid surcharges. Learn about the requirements for applying by June 30th and how „green conditionality“ has replaced proof of electricity cost intensity in the standard procedure.

Despite rising costs due to doubled grid fees and nEHS certificates, 2024 also offers relief, such as the planned reduction in electricity tax for the manufacturing industry. Learn how to turn new solar (PV) obligations in the federal states and stricter sustainability requirements into competitive advantages through a proactive renewable energy strategy.

Outdated bureaucratic hurdles in issuing certificates of origin currently prevent green electricity from commercial facilities from being officially declared as such. Cumbersome and expensive environmental assessments often make certification unprofitable and force operators to formally classify ecologically generated energy as „grey power.“.

With a relief package of up to twelve billion euros, politicians are responding to high energy costs and lowering the electricity tax for large parts of industry to the European minimum. The article examines the details of electricity price compensation and the new grid charge subsidies.

According to the EU directive from 2026, CSRD now focuses on companies with 1,000 or more employees, for which robust ESG governance becomes a strategic imperative. This post highlights the crucial steps from the as-is analysis to monitoring.

The EU electricity market reform signals the end of classic market premiums and will rely on mandatory Contracts for Difference (CfDs) to protect consumers from price explosions. This system change offers plant operators long-term revenue security – but could also reduce earnings.

In line with the EU taxonomy, financial institutions are increasingly focusing on green financing models and are gradually divesting from clients without a decarbonization strategy. A proactive shift to renewable energies is thus becoming a decisive factor for creditworthiness and secures companies attractive long-term financing conditions.

With the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG), lawmakers are tightening requirements for corporate energy efficiency, with a particular focus on identifying and utilizing waste heat. Learn about the new audit obligations your company will face and how to transform legal requirements into genuine cost advantages through an economic efficiency assessment according to DIN 17463.

Banks are increasingly tightening their lending criteria and consistently divesting from „brown“ companies without a clear CO₂ reduction strategy. This article explains how businesses can lower their financing costs and secure long-term competitive advantages and a positive image with investors through the targeted implementation of ESG criteria.

By linking CSRD, the Taxonomy, and the new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the EU is creating a sharp sword against misleading environmental advertising. This article highlights the increasing demands for transparent corporate governance and explains why a well-founded sustainability strategy is essential today.

With a total funding package of 32 billion euros, the federal government is providing targeted support for climate-friendly technologies and offering attractive funding rates of up to 35% specifically to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The new law combines tax incentives for research and energy efficiency to modernize the economy and make the transition to climate neutrality a profitable one.

The amendment to the Renewable Energy Directive sets new binding standards for industry, transport, and buildings to drastically reduce dependence on fossil fuels. This contribution highlights the central innovations of RED III – from the definition of green hydrogen to the radical simplification of environmental assessments.