The critical role of the Biomass Package in the future of certain power stations

Question for written answer E-003257/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
David McAllister (PPE), Lena Düpont (PPE), Jens Gieseke (PPE)

Over the course of 2025, 319 biogas block-type thermal power stations in Lower Saxony will be affected by the expiry of the first subsidies granted under the German Renewable Energies Act (the 'EEG'). Almost half of these power stations are still waiting for confirmation that they will be awarded follow-up funding, and hence their future is uncertain. Dependable follow-on legislation is of vital importance. The Biomass Package agreed on by the German Bundestag and eagerly awaited by many operators has hit a roadblock because the Commission has still not granted approval according to the State aid rules. Hundreds of power stations (and megawatts of installed capacity) are at risk in Lower Saxony alone.

Biomass is a cheap and readily available alternative for the purpose of the energy and heat transition and municipal thermal design. Power stations with an output totalling 69.5 MW may go offline in 2025 in the absence of follow-on arrangements. The funding for 446 additional power stations with an output totalling 145.1 MW will run out in 2026, and 322 of these have not yet found an alternative solution.

A failure in this area would mean a retrograde step for the energy transition in Lower Saxony; not only would the region be deprived of a means of generating electricity and heat in a climate-friendly manner, it would also suffer a loss of system flexibility. In rural areas, biomass plays a vital role as an energy source that guarantees a secure and eco-friendly supply of thermal energy.

• 1.Is the Commission aware that the very survival of many power stations is reliant on approval being granted promptly according to the State aid rules, and does it therefore recognise the urgent need to complete this approval procedure as soon as possible?
• 2.Given that there is a risk that the substantial amount of energy generated by these power stations might be lost if this approval procedure is not completed, when does it intend to complete it?

Submitted: 20.8.2025