The Renewable energy sources act as a successful instrument of environmental and energy policies is being further developed: One of the Federal Government's main policy objectives is to ensure establishment of sustainable energy supply systems. In this context, it is necessary to secure the energy supply of future generations and take account of ecological targets and economic growth at the same time. One major element of this strategy is to considerably increase the share of renewable energies in energy supply with a view to securing finite energy resources and advancing environmental and climate protection.

The Renewable Energy Sources Act is one of the central elements of the Federal Government's environmental and energy policy. It was adopted by the German Bundestag on 29 March 2000 and came into effect on 1 April 2000. The Renewable Energy Sources Act has helped to considerably improve the grid feeding and payment systems introduced in favour of renewable energies under the Electricity Feed Act in 1991 by adjusting them to conditions on the liberalised electricity market. Nevertheless the progress report of 2002 clearly shows that modifications are necessary, despite the great success of the act.

Given the Federal Government's medium- and long-term objectives, renewable energies will only be truly competitive if they continue to receive targeted support into the foreseeable future.