German manufacturers are at risk of losing energy exemptions worth billions of euros, prompting warnings that factories will be unable to compete with US rivals that are benefiting from the shale boom.
One of the most contentious proposals being discussed as part of Germany’s coalition negotiations is the removal of exemptions that have shielded companies from the cost of moving to renewable power, which were worth €2.3bn to energy-intensive companies last year.
German households and some companies have shouldered the cost of moving to green energy through surcharges on energy bills, which have contributed to the country having the second highest bills in the EU.