PersonDE
Katherina Reiche
German CDU Economy Minister; steering the StromVKG capacity law and 12 GW gas-plant tender programme.
Last refreshed: 18 June 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Key Question
Is Germany's 12 GW hydrogen-ready gas tender a credible energy security strategy for 2026?
Timeline for Katherina Reiche
#1916 Jun
Mentioned in: Greens push H2 clause in StromVKG
European Energy Markets#168 Jun
Sponsored the StromVKG capacity-payment law through cabinet
European Energy Markets: Berlin cabinet clears gas-plant subsidy law#1118 May
Mentioned in: Chemicals 62-68% as the new running floor
European Energy Markets#1014 May
Confirmed 12 GW H2-ready gas plant tender programme formally agreed with EU Commission
European Energy Markets: Berlin confirms 12 GW gas tender#112 Apr
Mentioned in: Stegra finishes 740 MW Boden electrolyser
European Energy MarketsCommon Questions
Who is Katherina Reiche and what is her energy policy record?
Katherina Reiche is Germany's Economy Minister under the CDU-led Coalition, appointed in 2025. Before entering government she was CEO of Westenergie, E.on's regional energy subsidiary. She was previously a CDU Bundestag member and Parliamentary State Secretary. Her confirmation of the 12 GW gas tender in May 2026 was her first major energy policy action as minister.Source: Lowdown European Energy Markets
What did Germany's Economy Minister announce about new gas power plants?
Katherina Reiche confirmed in May 2026 that Germany's 12 GW hydrogen-ready gas-plant tender programme is formally proceeding. The programme will commission new gas-fired capacity that must be technically capable of switching to hydrogen as fuel when the hydrogen infrastructure is available, replacing coal and nuclear capacity being retired.Source: Lowdown European Energy Markets
Why did Germany's gas plant legislation take three years to agree?
Germany's gas plant tender was delayed by Coalition disagreements between the SPD, Greens, and FDP over whether new gas infrastructure was compatible with climate targets, disputes over public subsidy levels, and conflicts with EU state aid rules. The CDU's 2025 election victory and formation of a new Coalition cleared the political deadlock that had stalled the programme since 2023.Source: Lowdown European Energy Markets
Background
Katherina Reiche (CDU) is Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy. She confirmed in May 2026 that Germany's 12 GW hydrogen-ready gas-plant tender programme is formally agreed with the European Commission, with first auctions opening in 2026 and all units required to be operational by 2031, decarbonised by 2045. She steered the StromVKG capacity-payment law through cabinet on 8 June 2026, opening the first capacity auction on 8 September 2026. At the Bundestag Wirtschaftsausschuss on 17 June 2026, the Greens demanded hydrogen-conversion criteria be embedded in the auction qualification rules before any contracts are signed; the September auction remains on schedule with no slip confirmed. Her previous role as CEO of Westenergie (E.on subsidiary, 2020-2025) shapes her framing of gas infrastructure as a bridge asset with a fixed 2045 decarbonisation Deadline.
More questions
What is the Germany 12 GW gas tender and when will the plants be built?
Germany's 12 GW tender is a government programme to commission new hydrogen-ready gas-fired power plants to replace retiring coal and nuclear capacity. Confirmed by Reiche in May 2026, the tender is expected to offer capacity contracts to developers. First plants are unlikely to come online before 2030 given planning and construction timelines.Source: Lowdown European Energy Markets
What is Westenergie and how does it relate to Katherina Reiche's background?
Westenergie is E.on's regional energy subsidiary operating distribution grids and energy retail in western Germany, with approximately 20 million customer connections. Reiche served as its CEO from 2020 to 2025, giving her direct commercial experience of Germany's energy transition at the distribution level before returning to politics as Economy Minister.Source: Lowdown European Energy Markets
What is Germany's 12 GW hydrogen-ready gas tender?
Germany's Economy Minister Katherina Reiche confirmed a programme to tender 12 GW of hydrogen-ready gas-fired power plant capacity, with first auctions opening in 2026 and all units operational by 2031. All plants must be hydrogen-ready and decarbonised by 2045. The Coalition target is up to 20 GW by 2030.Source: event
Who is Katherina Reiche and what is her energy background?
When will Germany's new gas power plants come online under the Reiche programme?
The first tenders open in 2026 and all 12 GW must be operational by 2031 under the programme Reiche confirmed with EU Commission approval. A capacity market for supply security from 2032 is targeted for policy delivery by 2027.Source: event
Has the EU Commission approved Germany's gas plant tender?
Yes. Economy Minister Reiche confirmed the 12 GW programme is 'formally agreed with the European Commission', meaning the state-aid compatibility assessment was passed before the public tender announcement.Source: event
Who is Katherina Reiche and what is she doing as Germany's Economy Minister?
Katherina Reiche is Germany's CDU Economy and Energy Minister, appointed in 2025. She confirmed the 12 GW hydrogen-ready gas tender programme in May 2026 and steered the StromVKG capacity law through cabinet in June 2026, opening the first capacity auction in September 2026.Source: European Energy Markets Update 10
What is Germany's StromVKG and when does it take effect?
The Stromversorgungskostensenkungsgesetz (StromVKG) is a capacity-payment law creating competitive auctions for dispatchable backup generation. Cabinet approved it on 8 June 2026. The first auction opens 8 September 2026, the second 22 December 2026. The subsidy peaks near EUR 3bn per year from 2031.Source: European Energy Markets Update 19
Are the Greens blocking Germany's gas capacity auctions?
The Greens demanded that hydrogen-conversion criteria be embedded in the StromVKG auction qualification rules at the Bundestag Wirtschaftsausschuss on 17 June 2026. The September 2026 first auction remains on schedule with no confirmed slip as of that date.Source: European Energy Markets Update 19
How the World Sees Them
Poland
Germany building gas capacity into the 2030s has direct implications for Polish-German interconnection; Poland is watching whether the German capacity market creates structural import or export incentives.
Germany
Reiche's confirmation of the 12 GW programme and the StromVKG cabinet passage are energy-security decisions before they are climate ones; Berlin is prioritising dispatchable supply against winter peak-demand risk and the EU gas storage deficit.
EU Commission
Brussels approved the 12 GW programme as state-aid compatible before Reiche announced the tender schedule, signalling close alignment. The Commission's formal endorsement gave the ministry cover to set definitive auction dates.
European Commission
Brussels approved the 12 GW programme as state-aid compatible, a prerequisite Reiche secured before announcing the tender schedule — signalling close alignment with the Commission's energy security agenda.
Environmental groups
Critics argue the hydrogen-ready framing is a greenwashing mechanism entrenching gas infrastructure for decades; the Greens' Wirtschaftsausschuss demand for embedded hydrogen-conversion criteria is the parliamentary expression of that critique.
German industrial sector
Energy-intensive manufacturers facing negative spark spreads and plant closures view the StromVKG capacity market as necessary to restore supply confidence but late; the 2031 operational deadline does not address their 2026 cost crisis.