LNG capacities are sufficient
Habeck: Germany doesn’t need coal power in winter
October 12, 2023, 11:46 a.m
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After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany is restructuring its energy supply. Nuclear reactors are running out and liquid gas is to be imported. Coal could have a renaissance as an option. But that won’t be necessary next winter, says Economics Minister Habeck.
According to Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck, the operation of reserve coal-fired power plants to supply energy in Germany will no longer be necessary in the winter of next year. Then three more liquid gas terminals would be in operation, said Habeck on Wednesday evening on the ARD program “Maischberger”. “Then the infrastructure is there. Next winter we won’t need any additional coal-fired power plants. That’s the plan.”
There are currently three floating terminals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in operation, namely in Wilhelmshaven in Lower Saxony, in Brunsbüttel in Schleswig-Holstein and in Lubmin in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Three more terminals are to follow in Stade, Wilhelmshaven and Mukran on Rügen. However, there is great resistance to the terminal on the Baltic Sea island. “These three terminals will be created,” said Habeck.
At the beginning of October, the federal government decided that old coal-fired power plants could be put back into operation if there were problems with the supply of natural gas in the upcoming winter. Coal plants in the reserve can produce electricity in the event of a gas shortage in order to save gas in electricity production.
The regulation was applied last winter from October to the end of June. This winter, the replacement power plants should be ready from October to the end of March 2024. Habeck admitted that it was “nothing good” that “these dirt-slingers are coming online.” He ruled out a return to nuclear power.