Germany without nuclear power: energy companies stress need for new gas-fired power plants

The shutdown of the last three nuclearpower plants in Germany, which took place at the end of last week, is being used by representatives of the energysector to highlight the need to ensure sufficient capacity in the German electricity grid. Calls are being made to speed up the construction of new gas-fired power plants, as well as to place more coal-fired power plants on standby.

According to the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), the construction of new gas-fired power plants must begin to ensure the security of electricity supply.

This is necessary to “ensure security of supply at all times, including in the long term,” said Kerstin Andreae, the association’s chief executive.

The association says that if new gas-fired power plants cannot be commissioned in time, this would lead to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions, as coal-fired power plants would have to operate instead. Coal-fired power plants emit roughly twice as much CO₂ into the atmosphere per unit of electricity generated as gas-fired plants.