Power strategy - Industry: Government goals at power plants scarcely achievable
Industry President Siegfried Russwurm has major doubts about the German government's strategy for building new gas power plants. Russwurm told the German Press Agency that the federal government's goal of 12.5 Gigawatts by 2030 is almost unreachable. "This also puts the accelerated coal phase-out by 2030 in danger."
The Federal Network Agency is responsible for ensuring that there is always sufficient capacity on the grid and electricity supply, said Russwurm. "They will therefore not simply prevent the shutdown of coal power plants. The conditions under which operators maintain readiness for operation are on another page."
Government Plans
New gas power plants, which can be operated with hydrogen at a later stage, are to serve as backups for securing electricity generation from renewable energies such as wind and solar in the future - in times of "dark fleets," when there is no wind or sun. The new power plants are also planned to make a significant contribution to the rapid decarbonization of the power plant park. A total of 12.5 Gigawatts of power plant capacity is to be procured. The ministry of economics is planning state funding. A final EU approval of the subsidies is still pending.
The construction of new power plants is also intended to secure an earlier coal phase-out. For the Rhineland region, this has already been brought forward by eight years to 2030. Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) also expects an earlier, market-driven coal phase-out in Eastern Germany.
Russwurm sees higher demand
"The topic of power plant strategy is almost becoming a running gag," said Russwurm, President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI). "I've been hearing for almost a year now: 'We'll have a power plant strategy soon.' The cabinet decision for the underlying and necessary capacity market, which was announced for this summer, is still not available."
The need for new, controllable gas power plant capacity is much greater than what the government currently plans, said Russwurm. If all political framework conditions and perhaps even financing issues are clarified, the question arises: "Can we build these gas power plants at all? A really large, hydrogen-capable power plant doesn't exist anywhere yet," said Russwurm.
"In discussions with manufacturers, with the engineers and engineers who are working on it, I hear: We would love to build one, but only where there is a hydrogen pipeline that also delivers the necessary quantities of hydrogen," said the BDI President. "It must first be built, so that the step from 'component test stand' to practice can be made: 'That hasn't happened yet.'"
- The BDI, led by President Siegfried Russwurm, has expressed concerns about the German government's strategy to build new gas power plants, as it may hinder the accelerated coal phase-out by 2030.
- The Federal Network Agency, responsible for ensuring grid capacity and electricity supply, will not prevent the shutdown of coal power plants but will consider the conditions under which operators maintain readiness for operation.
- The German government's plans include constructing new gas power plants, which can be later converted to operate with hydrogen, to serve as backups for secure electricity generation from renewable energies.
- These new power plants are intended to contribute significantly to the rapid decarbonization of the power plant park, with a goal of procuring 12.5 Gigawatts of power plant capacity.
- Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck expects an earlier, market-driven coal phase-out in Eastern Germany, with the construction of new power plants also aimed at securing an earlier coal phase-out in the Rhineland region.
- According to Siegfried Russwurm, the demand for new, controllable gas power plant capacity is much greater than what the government currently plans, and the existence of a large, hydrogen-capable power plant is yet to be seen, requiring the construction of hydrogen pipelines first.
