Germany will revive dormant coal plants to conserve gas and avert potential power shortages during the upcoming winter. The Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWi) disclosed the government’s decision to authorize the reactivation of two coal blocks at RWE’s Niederaussem plant and another at its Neurath plant, along with two leagues at LEAG’s Jaenschwalde coal plant.
Germany Resurrects Coal Plants to Safeguard Winter Power
These facilities, on standby since mid-summer, are expected to be fully operational until March 2024. Additionally, extending the operation of two RWE coal units at the Neurath plant until spring 2025 is considered. The move is a precautionary measure to build a supply reserve and avoid potential gas supply bottlenecks during the 2023/2024 heating season.
The Ministry emphasized that this action will maintain Germany’s commitment to complete the coal phase-out by 2030 and other climate goals. The decision to revert to coal is a response to concerns stemming from the energy crisis experienced last year due to a significant reduction in gas supplies from Russia.
Despite efforts to diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on Russian gas, there are persistent warnings from industry experts about potential shortages. The move to reactivate coal plants also follows the shutdown of Germany’s last three nuclear power plants in April, further heightening concerns about the country’s energy security. The Ministry pledged to assess the additional carbon emissions from this coal plant reactivation and intends to propose compensatory measures by the summer.
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