Germany followed a strange path to renewables. It pushed solar and wind faster than other countries in Europe, but after Fukushima decided to shut down its relatively clean nuclear plants and replace them with highly-polluting lignite-burning plants. Now it is finally getting ready to start shutting down the brown coal plants and mines.
However, Germany remains critically dependent on imports of natural gas from Russia. We also need to see a plan for electric vehicles of all kinds, including cars, trucks, buses, ferries, and regional aircraft, topics for another Renewable Day.
Germany to pay energy firms billions in coal phaseout plan
Chancellor Angela Merkel's government and Germany's four coal-producing states unveiled details of their plan to phase out coal by 2038 on Thursday.
The plans outline a timeline for decommissioning lignite-coal power plants in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg as well as easing the financial transition for the states and energy firms involved.
I'm going to make my usual prediction. If politics don't get in the way too much, it will all happen much faster than technologists and analysts can possibly imagine.
What's in the plan?
- Energy firms will receive a €4.35 billion ($4.85 billion) payout to compensate for the coal phaseout.
- At least eight coal-fired power plants will be taken off the grid this year.
- The government will provide €14 billion to the affected states over the next few years to specifically aid the transition out of coal.
- An additional €26 billion will be dedicated for "further measures" to support the states.
'Important breakthrough' for the climate
Armin Laschet, the state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia called the deal "an important breakthrough for climate protection."
"We will only succeed in achieving an ambitious coal phase-out if we take the citizens in the affected areas with us," Laschet said.
How will the regions be impacted?
An estimated 20,000 people are employed in Germany's lignite industry — of which 15,000 work in open-pit mines and 5,000 in lignite power plants. The country's last active black coal mine closed in 2018, but more than 5,000 people still work in coal-fired power plants.
The Previous Plan
Energiewende
The Energiewende (pronounced [ʔenɛʁˈɡiːˌvɛndə]; German for "energy transition") is the planned transition by Germany to a low carbon, environmentally sound, reliable, and affordable energy supply. The term Energiewende is regularly used in English language publications without being translated (a loanword).[3]:4The new system will rely heavily on renewable energy (particularly wind, photovoltaics, and hydroelectricity), energy efficiency, and energy demand management. Most if not all existing coal-fired generation will need to be retired.
A key part of the program is the phasing out Germany's fleet of nuclear reactors, to be complete by 2022. This is with the aim of reaching a 100% renewable energy system. A study found that if Germany had postponed the nuclear phase out and phased out coal first it could have saved 1,100 lives and $12 billion in social costs per year.
Aug 15, 2018 - Germany Set to Miss 2020 Climate Goals
Germany, the nation that did more than any other to unleash the modern renewable-energy industry, is likely to fall short of its goals for reducing harmful carbon-dioxide emissions even after spending over 500 billion euros ($580 billion) by 2025 to overhaul its energy system.
Renewable Power
Solar power in Germany
Solar power in Germany consists almost exclusively of photovoltaics (PV) and accounted for an estimated 6.2 to 6.9 percent of the country's net-electricity generation in 2016.[3][4]About 1.5 million photovoltaic systems were installed around the country in 2014, ranging from small rooftop systems, to medium commercial and large utility-scale solar parks.[3]:5 Germany's largest solar farms are located in Meuro, Neuhardenberg, and Templin with capacities over 100 MW.
Germany has been among the world's top PV installer for several years, with total installed capacity amounting to 41.3 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2016,[1] behind only China.However, new installations of PV systems have declined steadily since the record year of 2011.[5] It's estimated that by 2017 over 70% of the country's jobs in the solar industry have been lost in the solar sector in recent years.[1] Proponents from the PV industry blame the lack of governmental commitment, while others point out the financial burden associated with the fast paced roll-out of photovoltaics, rendering the transition to renewable energies unsustainable in their view.[6]
Germany's official governmental goal is to continuously increase renewables' contribution to the country's overall electricity consumption. Long-term minimum targets are 35% by 2020, 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2050.[3]:6 The country is increasingly producing more electricity at specific times with high solar irradiation than it needs, driving down spot-market prices[7] and exporting its surplus of electricity to its neighboring countries, with a record exported surplus of 34 TWh in 2014.
Wind power in Germany
Wind power in Germany is a growing industry. The installed capacity was 55.6 gigawatt (GW) at the end of 2017, with 5.2 GW from offshore installations. In 2019, a quarter of the country's total electricity was generated using wind power,[2] compared to an estimated 9.3% in 2010.[3]
More than 26,772 wind turbines were located in the German federal area by year end 2015, and the country has plans for further expansion. As of the end of 2015 Germany was the third largest producer of wind power in the world by installations, behind China and the USA.
Nuclear
Nuclear power in Germany
Nuclear power in Germany accounted for 11.63% of electricity supply in 2017[2] compared to 22.4% in 2010.[3][4] German nuclear power began with research reactors in the 1950s and 1960s with the first commercial plant coming online in 1969. As of 2017, the share of nuclear power in the electricity sector in the country is decreasing following the decision of a complete nuclear phase-out by the next decade.
Nuclear power has been a topical political issue in recent decades, with continuing debates about when the technology should be phased out. The anti-nuclear movement in Germany has a long history dating back to the early 1970s, when large demonstrations prevented the construction of a nuclear plant at Wyhl. The topic received renewed attention at the start of 2007 due to the political impact of the Russia-Belarus energy dispute and in 2011 after the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan.[5] Within days of the March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, large anti-nuclear protests occurred in Germany. Protests continued and, on 29 May 2011, Merkel's government announced that it would close all of its nuclear power plants by 2022.
Coal
Germany to close all 84 of its coal-fired power plants
Jan 26, 2019 - Germany, one of the world's biggest consumers of coal, will shut down all 84 of its coal-fired power plants over the next 19 years
Jan 16, 2020 - Germany announced on Thursday that it would spend $44.5 billion to quit coal — but not for another 18 years, by 2038. The move shows how ...
Energy in Germany - Wikipedia
Coal is the largest source of electricity in Germany.
Dec 20, 2019 - Preview 2020: The fate of coal-fired power production in Germany has been sealed with the agreement of a government-appointed commission
Coal in Germany | Clean Energy Wire
Jan 17, 2020 - Germany reached an agreement that will allow it to stop burning coal by 2038.
Carbon Neutrality
German path to carbon neutrality achievable and affordable
German path to carbon neutrality achievable and affordable: research. ... Under the Paris climate accord, Germany is committed to cutting CO2 emissions by 55% from 1990 levels and by 80% to 95% by 2050.
Oct 31, 2019
Germany's greenhouse gas emissions and climate targets
Jan 23, 2020 - Germany aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 40 percent by 2020, by 55 percent by 2030 and up to 95 percent in 2050, compared to 1990 levels. ... Germany's climate targets were put on paper in 2007 and have been upheld by all governments since. ... “Major challenges” remained ...
Merkel pledges to make Germany carbon neutral by 2050
May 14, 2019 - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday that she would consult her newly established “climate cabinet” on how to attain carbon neutrality by 2050. Addressing climate ministers from around the world at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin, she signalled plans to …
German Climate Action Plan 2050 - Wikipedia
The German Climate Action Plan 2050 (German: Klimaschutzplan 2050) is a climate protection ... Under the plan, Germany's building stock will be largely carbon-neutral by 2050 and their limited energy needs will be met through renewables.
German energy giant RWE vows to go 'carbon neutral' by 2040
Sep 30, 2019 - German power giant RWE said Monday it aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, winding up fossil-fuel activities while building up ...
This German utility — the EU's largest emitter — has a 2040 Target
Sep 30, 2019 - German coal-burning utility giant sets 2040 carbon-neutral target. RWE AG RWE, -1.42% , Europe's biggest carbon-dioxide emitter
Dec 13, 2018 -Although Germany has been a global leader in moving to decarbonize its massive economy, the country’s ambitious clean-energy transformation is faltering. Now, a broad spectrum of energy experts are working to revitalize the effort to make Germany nearly carbon-free by mid-century.
Description of Picture at top
GERMANY-MINING-ENVIRONMENT-COAL-COMMISSION
Picture taken on January 23, 2019 shows a brown coal mining machine operating at the Welzow-Sued lignite opencast mine in Welzow, eastern Germany. - The so-called 'Kohlekommission' (coal commission), a governmental commission for growth, structural change and employment, that is meeting in Berlin on January 25, 2019, is to announce a roadmap for exiting coal as part of efforts to make Germany carbon-neutral by 2050. (Photo by Patrick Pleul)