Der Bedeutungsgehalt des Zwecks der "Nachhaltigen Entwicklung der Energieversorgung" in § 1 Abs. 1 EEG 2014

The German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) defines its purpose as developing the supply of energy in a sustainable manner. However, during the last years German legislation has successively reduced the subsidy bonuses for particularly sustainable or innovative energy sources.

Against this background, the question arises what the law actually means by sustainability. Although the expansion of renewable energies is unquestionably necessary to reach international climate protection goals, the EEG also aims at long-term sustainability in a comprehensive ecological fashion. As there is danger of failing this aim, the exact meaning of the term sustainability has to be examined. The study deals with this issue and highlights the concept of sustainability as used by the EEG.