Energy law

The research field "Energy law" strives to cover the essential aspects of energy law. It takes into account regulatory and competition law as well as the law on sustainable energy supply (renewable energies, energy efficiency, and climate protection) and comprises all the energy sources within their respective legal frameworks.

The work of this research field focuses on the legal aspects of energy-related tasks along the entire energy chain. In addition to this, it aims at the broader legal examination of the following three key topics: The subject area "network regulation" deals with questions of the regulatory framework for the energy grids. This includes in particular the requirements regarding the network expansion, where there is a strong interconnection between corporate and governmental tasks, as well as questions pertaining to the issue of incentive regulation, which results in a governmental examination of the entrepreneurial revenues.

The subject area "Sustainable energy supply and the market" concerns the legal framework conditions for the use of renewable energies, for the advancement of energy efficiency and for the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions. These mechanisms must be harmonised to the greatest possible degree with the functionality of an energy supply organised by the private sector, and it is also necessary to improve the market integration of the energies that receive particular funding.

The "Legal framework conditions for new energy and climate-protection technologies" must take into account that the introduction of new technologies may also involve some special risks. This in turn raises the issues of the feasibility and limits of special supporting measures and of the limitations of liability.