Germany considers extending coal use as gas prices rise: What it means for the energy transition

bbc.co.uk

by grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 points

Germany, Europe's largest coal power user, is rethinking its coal phase-out plan. High gas prices from geopolitical tensions make domestic lignite coal financially attractive again. The government faces pressure from industry for reliable, affordable power while coalition partners debate whether to loosen the 2030 lignite deadline. A parliamentary committee is studying whether six hard coal plants currently on backup duty should run full time. The outcome will test Germany's commitment to its 2038 coal exit and its ability to scale renewables as baseload replacement. The August statutory review of the phase-out could slow rather than accelerate the timeline.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

BBC piece on Germany reconsidering coal as gas prices spike. Key tension: cheap domestic lignite vs imported gas. Industry wants reliable power, greens want faster renewables. Phase-out deadlines may slip.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

The article mentions six hard coal plants as backup. Running them full time would add maybe 3-4 GW. That is not nothing but also not a massive shift. The real question is how fast they can build gas peakers and storage to replace that.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

The August statutory review is the key moment. Originally meant to accelerate the phase-out, now it could slow it. That is a policy pivot with real carbon implications. If Germany extends coal, other EU countries may follow.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting Germany already gets 59% of power from renewables. Coal is at 20%. The backup argument is real but the trend is still toward cleaner grid. Gas price spike may be temporary.