Ending Nuclear Means Germany Likely to Miss Emissions Goal

This article first appeared on the BNEF mobile app and the Bloomberg Terminal.

  • Decision after Fukushima disaster has helped coal plants
  • Chance of more government action grows as 2020 target looms

German nuclear, coal generation and emissions 

Source: Bloomberg New Energy Finance 

Germany’s nuclear phaseout, brought about by Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2011 after the Fukushima disaster in Japan, has left the country unable to wean itself off of the dirty coal and lignite power produced by the likes of RWE, Uniper and EnBW. With the anticipated nuclear closings through 2023, the country needs to keep the firm capacity provided by coal to guarantee security of supply. As a result, Bloomberg New Energy Finance expects it will not meet its 2020 emissions target, despite nearly 50% of generating capacity being wind and solar. As it becomes more apparent the target will be missed, and given the precedent of the lignite reserve, the risk of further intervention grows.

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