A country on the forefront of the green transition will put several mothballed coal-fired power plants back online ahead of the upcoming winter, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday.
Germany, which has spent hundreds of billions of dollars to enact the green energy transition, will reactivate several coal-fired units in order to meet peak demand and keep the lights on this winter, Bloomberg reported. [emphasis, links added]
The country has experienced elevated and inconsistent energy prices since Russia invaded Ukraine, impacting both German customers and companies.
The German government opted to go ahead with its plans to phase out its last nuclear reactors in April, and the war in Ukraine has resulted in a diminished flow of relatively inexpensive natural gas from Russia, according to Bloomberg.
German officials have cited safety concerns and a desire to focus on developing green energy as their rationale for shuttering the remaining reactors.
Two-thirds of Germans want a new government, says Germany's largest newspaper Bild.
Surveys also show two-thirds of Germans want to keep using nuclear energy.
What an interesting coincidence. https://t.co/SOof8XnkcP pic.twitter.com/5RxHanb0sb
— Mark Nelson (@energybants) August 19, 2023
The country needed to rely on coal last winter once the flow of Russian gas had slowed, and supply is likely to be even tighter this winter now that the nuclear reactors are out of the picture, Bloomberg reported.
The energy crisis and inconsistencies in the power market have contributed to the decisions of many companies to scale down their operations in Germany and look for more stable, affordable business environments in North America and Asia, according to Politico.
In June, German Economy and Energy Minister Robert Habeck warned that a future energy shortage could produce conditions in which “there is no secure scenario for how things will turn out” for the German economy.
Habeck issued his warning ahead of the December 2024 expiration of a natural gas deal between Russia and Ukraine, which allows for Russian gas to flow into Western Europe.
Top photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash
Read more at Daily Caller
Not sure that I’d consider North America would be a good choice for German industries given the Biden administration’s goal of going as “green” as Germany with wind turbines and solar. And north of the border is no better. Asia would be a much better choice since they are not as stupid as European and North American leaders.
Who wants a Mercedes Benz or a Porsche that was built in China?
I recently found out that Massey Ferguson is building tractors in China and selling them here.
No thanks.
With a possible huge increase in the price of CO2 in the EU’s idiotic trading scheme, will Germany’s energy policy be affordable. https://www.euractiv.com/section/emissions-trading-scheme/news/eu-carbon-price-to-hit-e400-mark-with-90-climate-goal-analysts/
At least Germany mothballed their coal fired plants, the UK asset stripped theirs.
Ontario’s former Premier ordered our coal-fired generators demolished too. I believe Kathleen Wynn did so to ensure that they never run again. She’ll never run again, either. Voters demolished her and provincial Liberal party.
Yes Mark, Germany was smart (if that can be said in this context?) while here in Australia, we blow up our closed coal power stations. That’s really good for the fresh air (not) and in a cynical move, it also prevents them from being reopened later.
So, unlike the Germans, we don’t have a fall-back option after our coal plants are closed. No point any German company coming down-under because when the sun goes down the lights will go out.
In addition to firing up mothballed coal plants, Germany has the option of buying power from its neighbors. The only backup plan Australia has is to implement rolling black outs.
Let the Eco-Freaks go live in the fark their used to it just tell them you font want to live with them and the Primitive way of living