As Russia reduces its gas supply to Europe’s largest economy, Germany will fire up its coal plants in preparation for next winter.
Germany will burn more coal, the most polluting fossil fuel, out of concern for potential power shortages caused by a cut in Russian supplies, according to the country’s economy minister.
Robert Habeck stated that Germany must restrict the use of natural gas for electricity generation after Russian oil giant Gazprom announced it would reduce supplies via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, ostensibly for technical reasons.
According to Habeck, the situation forces the government to burn more coal, which emits twice as much climate-warming carbon dioxide as gas.
Habeck, a member of the Green Party and an advocate for the environment, stated, “It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but in the current climate, a reduction in gas consumption is unavoidable.”
The government is also offering businesses incentives to reduce their gas consumption, with the intention of rerouting the excess fuel to fill up winter storage facilities – the “top priority.”
Habeck stated, “It is evident that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s strategy is to unnerve us by driving up prices and dividing us.” “We won’t let that happen.
In recent decades, Germany, along with many European Union nations and the United Kingdom, had increasingly relied on imported gas as a cleaner, albeit still polluting, alternative to coal.
As a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a number of these nations have signalled that they will increase their coal consumption in an effort to halt the flow of funds to Moscow and improve energy security.
To bolster energy security, the United Kingdom has extended the life of a coal plant, despite last year’s efforts to persuade other nations to “consign coal to history.”
Dave Jones of the climate-focused think tank Ember stated, “Countries are making difficult, urgent decisions in an emergency situation.”
Mr. Jones referred to Germany’s decision to once again increase coal power as a “emergency response, but hopefully a temporary one.”
“In the future, governments must concentrate on reducing gas demand,” he said.
He added that “rapid action” will be required for all gas-using industries, including heavy industry and heating.
Mohamed Adow, who directs the climate think tank Power Shift Africa, characterised an increase in coal use as a “devastating blow” to those on the front lines of the climate crisis.
Because historically wealthy polluters like Germany have not yet constructed enough wind and solar power, “climate-vulnerable populations will bear the brunt of Germany’s transition to coal,” according to Mr. Adow.
After the most recent invasion of Ukraine, Germany, a longtime consumer of Russian gas, began to reduce imports. Its climate goal to eliminate coal by 2030 and its policy to shut down its three remaining nuclear power plants by 2023 remain unchanged.
Berlin intends to increase its renewable energy production – it is already one of the most ambitious nations – as well as improve gas storage and energy efficiency measures.
“Currently, supply security is assured, but the situation is dire,” Habeck said.
However, Germany asserts that until alternative energy sources, such as LNG transported by ship, become available, Russian gas will continue to be necessary.
