Germany to look at reducing coal fired generation

• 10 years ago (2014-10-30)
• Junior Isles

Europe 1089

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Rainer Baake, State Secretary at Germany’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, has said that the government will decide on a programme on December 3, 2014 aimed at improving energy efficiency and possibly reducing the amount of electricity currently produced by coal fired plants.

According to Baake, the German Environment Ministry has already warned that the nation may miss its goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2020 from 1990 levels.

“It is our job to close this gap. It is my view that we will succeed. We are determined to do it,” Baake said.

Germany’s emissions have not fallen as expected as a result of greater coal fired generation, as gas fired plants have become unprofitable to run. The government has not taken any decision on the possible introduction of a capacity market, aimed at helping unprofitable gas power plants in particular.

In a new report from the European Commission earlier this month, Germany was also named as one of 14 European Union member states that will fail to meet their 20 per cent renewable energy target by 2020 based on current progress.