Frankfurt am Main- employee representatives from the industries of energy and heat technology expect reliability in energy supply from the federal government. Every political signal that the company unsettles is poison for the local jobs, according to the works council conclusion at an IG Metall industry conference in Berlin. However, clear local content guidelines for the industries are necessary, emphasizes Jürgen Kerner, second chairman of IG Metall: “Klezen regulations are needed so that domestic industry is fairly taken into account in capacity and network expansion. The Federal Government must ensure that German energy policy also ensures and promotes employment in Germany.”
The discussion about the so -called heating law has long caused a lot of uncertainty: the sales of heat pumps in 2024 compared to the boom year 2023 by almost half. Most recently, the new Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche irritated the industries. In some cases, the impression had arisen, the climate and expansion goals that had been defined for a long time could be revised.
In view of this debate, Kerner warns more reliability: “The investment and planning periods, especially in the area of energy systems and network infrastructure, are long. The companies must therefore rely on targets and strategies. They need clear and long-term decisions. A political lover course at the energy transition is fatal, it endangers thousands of jobs and harms the industrial location of Germany sustainably.”
The background of the debates include the high costs that the expansion of networks and capacities brings. In this context, IG Metall refers to a Current study by the Hans Böckler Foundationthat identifies the use of private capital when expanding the power grids as an essential cost driver.
Accordingly, the plans of the federal government to finance the expansion of German electricity grids significantly through public-private partnerships with private equity are inefficient. By 2037, a total economic loss of a total of 220 billion euros would be thoroughly implemented if the projects announced in the coalition agreement were implemented, the researchers said. This is due to the fact that private investors such as investment companies or banks are demanding high returns for their capital. It would be far cheaper to finance the network expansion exclusively through public participation companies that receive funds from the federal government or from the federal states at a favorable basis.
On the occasion of the IG Metall conference, Kerner emphasizes the importance of the industries: “The industries of energy and heat technology are central to climate goals and safe energy supply. Here there is potential for promising innovations and thus for good and safe jobs today and tomorrow. For this, companies have to invest now.”
Around 90 works councils from companies in the conventional energy plant and power plant construction as well as the heating, solar and wind industry in Berlin met this Thursday and Friday for the IG Metal Branch Conference for Energy and Heat Technologies. For two days they discussed the current challenges of their industries from an employee perspective with representatives from science and politics.