Germany is already compromising EU energy policy and preparing new coal-fired power plants in the absence of Russian gas

By rbj
Germany would expand coal use as the country could rethink its energy plans following a review of Russia’s gas supply and the Russo-Ukrainian war, according to Economy Minister Robert Habeck, Bloomberg reports.
This trend has been evident since 2021, although Berlin and especially the Green Party have always argued that Germany is the renewable champion.
Energy consumption in Germany increased in 2021 compared to the previous year, while the share of renewable energy sources in energy production was declining, according to figures published by the AGEB energy market research group and the industry lobby association. . BDEW.Energy consumption increased by 2.6% (12,193 petajoules) compared to 2020, when economic activity was severely depressed due to the coronavirus pandemic, AGEB said, adding that primary energy consumption in the country is still significantly below the levels. before the 2019 crisis, as a pandemic. the effects could still be felt in 2021, and supply chain disruptions have hampered further economic recovery.
According to German institutions and contrary to government plans, coal energy consumption increased significantly, as did lignite, by about 18%, while natural gas increased by only 4%.
Conventional energy sources accounted for more than half of Germany’s electricity generated in the third quarter of 2021, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office.
Data from the German government’s statistical authority showed that conventional sources accounted for 56.9% of total electricity generated between July and September.
Coal accounted for 31.9% of this electricity mix in the third quarter of the year. This marked a sharp increase from year to year and from quarter to quarter: coal accounted for 26.4% in the same period in 2020 and accounted for 27.1% of electricity generated in the first half of 2021.
The former co-leader of the Green Party said coal-fired power plants could work better and said he was not “ideologically opposed” to expanding the use of nuclear energy. Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday announced plans to build two new liquefied natural gas terminals to expand Germany’s energy options and reduce its dependence on Russia.
The government wants to get to a point where it can “choose with these countries we want to build energy partnerships,” Habeck said in an interview with ARD television on Sunday night. “To be able to choose also to be able to become independent of Russian gas, coal or oil.”
Although Germany can do without Russian gas in the coming months, the country will have to significantly expand its purchasing strategy for next winter, he said.
Expanding coal use beyond 2030 could pose risks, and in the long run there is no alternative to renewable energy in terms of energy security, Habeck said.
Nuclear power is unlikely to be a short-term solution, as the country’s last three reactions are already out of date.