Tough choices for Germany as coal power stations return to keep people warm this winter

In Germany, coal is making something of a comeback.

A power station once marked for closure in the town of Bexbach is being resurrected.

For the last few years, the plant was in the “grid reserve”, meaning it was called upon to supplement shortages in the power network a few days a year.

Now, it’s one of more than 20 which could come back online full time to help fill the gap left by dwindling energy supplies from Russia.

Michael Lux, the manager at Bexbach, said: “We need energy in Germany, and we need energy in Europe, and there is lack of energy…You don’t want to imagine if people have to live in cold houses.”

Germany has pledged to totally cut its coal use by 2038, with the government ideally hoping to phase it out by 2030, but the war in Ukraine has forced a temporary resurgence.

Since July, Russia has slashed gas flowing to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to 20% of its capacity.

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This week, flows to Europe will halt altogether as the pipeline is switched off for three days of maintenance.

The German government is looking at long term solutions like boosting renewable energy sources and importing liquified natural gas (LNG), but these take time – the mothballed coal plants can start producing power almost immediately.

For the moment, Bexbach, and its sister plant at Weiher, will operate until April 2023, with the possibility of an extension to spring 2024.

‘Little choice’ but to turn back to coal

To guarantee Bexbach can supply energy over the winter, it needs to be fully operational by November.

Seventy-year-old Horst Haefner has come out of retirement to help.

Like many Germans, he is far from ecstatic about turning back to coal power, but admits they have little choice.

“We have to replace the gas and the price of energy has gone up tremendously,” he said.

Making sure the power station can operate full time is also technically difficult.

For a start, many of the workers are reaching retirement and their skills can’t be learned overnight.

From his seat in Bexbach’s control room, Martin Giesen is all too aware of the challenges.

“We have staffing problems; they can’t be explained away.

“We have logistical problems with the fuel.

“We have logistical problems with the additives that are needed.

“We have technical problems with a 40-year-old power plant that has not been well maintained over the last few years because there are no staff left, and that’s the way it is…..We do our best,” he explained.

Terrified customers have started fights on coal shop floor

These aren’t the only concerns.

While it might help to keep the lights on, coal is the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel.

Having lived in the shadow of the power plant for 15 years, beekeeper Ron Silver believes the climate is being sacrificed to solve the current crisis.

“I think it’s stupid,” he said.

“It’s a decision made by people who are using the fact that the population in Germany is afraid that they won’t have electricity, which is not true.”

But coal seller Frithjof Engelke has witnessed this fear first-hand.

Customers terrified they won’t get their fuel supplies have started fights on the shop floor.

“Many customers are really scared, they’re very worried that there’s nothing there to heat,” Frithjof said.

“They don’t hit each other yet, but the fear is great and everyone wants [the coal].”

Germany’s leaders are confident they can keep people warm this winter.

The government has said gas storage facilities are already more than 80% full.

On Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen insisted that the continent is accelerating the transition to renewable energy.

She said: “Putin’s attempt to blackmail us with fossil fuels is failing.

“We are accelerating the green transition. We are getting rid of the dependency of Russian fossil fuels, and we are accelerating the renewable, clean, cheaper and home-grown renewable energy.”

Seven Baltic Sea countries – Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Denmark – have announced a seven-fold increase of wind power production by 2030 as a way to free the region from its dependence on Russian natural gas.

But in Germany, the solution to the energy crisis involves a painful compromise for the green coalition, which finds itself forced once again to lean on the planet’s most polluting fossil fuel.

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