Berlin – Germany’s ministerial Cabinet has given approval for the resumption of lignite-fired power generation in case of winter energy shortages, as announced by the country’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action on Wednesday.

These lignite-fired power plants will be brought back online if necessary between October and the end of March 2024. This decision comes in response to concerns over potential energy supply issues during the winter months.

Notably, the German government had previously reconnected a total of 1.9 gigawatts of backup lignite power plants to the grid during the previous winter season. This move was prompted by disruptions in natural gas deliveries from Moscow due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

However, lignite power plants are known to emit significantly more carbon dioxide than natural gas power plants. In light of this, the German government has committed to proposing measures to address the increased carbon emissions resulting from the operation of these plants during the upcoming winter. These proposals are expected to be formulated and presented by the summer of next year.

This decision reflects the German government’s ongoing efforts to navigate the challenges associated with ensuring a stable and secure energy supply while managing environmental concerns and carbon emissions. The resumption of lignite-fired power generation remains a contingency plan to address potential energy shortages during peak demand periods in the winter months.

Source: with agencies