Federal States (Länder) Support for Renewable Energy

Although German federal laws (e.g. EEG) and federal funds have had substantial influence in the deployment of renewable energies, federal states (Länder) also provide considerable support for renewables. As some states have been more active than others, regional differences exist in the levels of support. While the most successful instruments of support on the federal level are concerning the use of renewable energies for electricity generation, on a regional/state level the promotion of renewable technologies focuses on heating and cooling. Moreover, regional funding is often sector specific. For example, one programme run by the federal states explicitly supports the agricultural sector. Photovoltaic and biogas systems receive a majority of the support from regional programs, and as such gain the largest profit. While funds available at the federal level or due to federal law have been the main driver for the deployment of renewable energy technologies, the federal states (Länder) have also provided considerable support. Some states have been more active than others.