Germany will stop all 84 coal-fired power stations by 2038 and replace it with renewable energy

by Diana Parkhouse

It was revealed that Germany, one of the world's largest coal consuming countries, plans to close all of the 84 coal-fired power stations in the country by 2038. This report is an indication that one of Europe's largest countries is putting greater emphasis on reducing carbon dioxide emissions, which has been viewed as a problem in recent years, and it will be expected to have a major influence on other countries .

Germany to close all 84 of its coal-fired power plants, will rely primarily on renewable energy - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-germany-coal-power-20190126-story.html

Germany should phase out coal use by 2038: commission | ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/01/27/19/germany-should-phase-out-coal-use-by-2038-commission

Germany is one of the world's leading coal consuming countries that covers 40% of the electricity used in the country with coal-fired power generation. It has been revealed that the German government committee has agreed to close all domestically operating coal-fired power plants by 2038 in order to abide by international arrangements on greenhouse gas reductions . In addition, due to the agreement made by the government committee, the official decision of the German government will be awaited from now on.

In a news conference held in Berlin, Ronald Pohla, the government committee chairman who revealed the closure of the coal-fired power plant, said, "This is a historical achievement." "By 2038, coal-fired power generation "We are pleased that the" closure of the coal-fired power station "which was controversial for about seven months was finally decided.

Support for areas that will be greatly affected by the closure of coal-fired power plants is also planned, and a total of approximately $ 45 billion (about 4.9 trillion yen) subsidies will be introduced. However, the governments of the four states that will be hit hard by closing the coal-fired power plant are seeking subsidies totaling $ 68 billion (about 7.4 trillion yen), and this agreement of the government committee It is said that it shows desire to be disappointed.

Claudia Kenfeld, a professor of energy economics working in German economic research, said, "What Germany is trying to seriously address the climate change problem is an important sign for the world, depending heavily on coal Huge developed nations are trying to stop it, "he says.

by Nick Nice

In Germany, it has already been decided to close all nuclear power plants by 2022, following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in Japan in 2011. At the beginning of announcing the suspension of the nuclear power plant, the voices of stern criticism came as many companies in Germany saying "It will lead to losing competitiveness against foreign competitors". It is also speculated that leading industrial related businesses will withdraw from Germany and replace existing "bad, but low-cost power plants" with "good for the environment but costly power plants" That was continued to be regarded as a problem from a part. However, as of January 2019, 12 of the 19 nuclear power stations in the country are closed completely in Germany, closing of nuclear power plants is proceeding smoothly.

Closing all coal-fired power stations as well as nuclear power plants means that Germany will begin renewable energy with 65-80% of the country's electricity by 2038. In Germany, renewable energy exceeded the coal-derived power generation in 2018 and succeeded in covering 41% of the electricity consumed domestically with renewable energy.

However, in Germany, public works and labor unions strongly support the maintenance of coal-fired power plants and even when plans to increase the number of coal-fired power plants have appeared when the closure of nuclear power plants is decided. It is estimated that the number of workers who directly depend on the coal industry is 20,000 and the number of indirectly connected workers is 40 thousand, so what should be done with these labor force if closing a coal-fired power plant? The problem of emerging.

by Jackson Jost

Germany has long established itself as a global leader in climate change initiatives. The international agreement on climate change, " Paris Agreement " of about 200 countries around the world, including Germany, took place in 2015, includes the multiple agreements on greenhouse gas emission reductions to reduce global average temperature rise to "less than 2 degrees" The target has been set. Kenfeld said that if the closure of the coal-fired power plant is successful, Germany will achieve the goal of reducing carbon dioxide levels by 55% from 1990 figures by 2030 and by 80% by 2050 I will.

In the plan to close coal-fired power plants in Germany, it is requested that one quarter of coal-fired power plants that will generate 12.5 GW of electricity will be closed by 2022, and this will be done as planned About 24 units will be closed in the first three years. Later, by 2030 the number of coal-fired power plants has been reduced to about 8, and it is planned that complete closure can be completed by 2035 if the plan goes well.