A new coal-fired power plant, despite the government having announced the phase-out of the fossil fuel by 2038. In Germany, the news of the opening of the site named Datteln 4, which is expected to be operational from 2020, has sparked the fury of environmentalists. While from an operational standpoint little will change for Germany's energy mix – taking into account the 84 plants still in service – from a political one the choice carries no small significance.

Patrick59600 @ereduverseau

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Nach den gefälschten Motoren von Volkswagen die kohlebefeuerten Windenergieanlagen?
"Das Kohlekraftwerk Uniper Datteln 4 darf in Betrieb genommen werden" reuters.com/article/uniper…
BERLIN, 30. Oktober (Reuters).

💬 1 4 nov 2019 · Apri su X →

The Datteln 4 plant, the last coal-fired power station under construction in Germany

The Datteln 4 plant is owned by the Uniper group and is located in North Rhine-Westphalia, the industrial region of the Ruhr basin. With a capacity of 1,100 megawatts, it cost 1.5 billion euros. An enormous cost, which alone could account for the choice made by Angela Merkel's executive. It should be noted, however, that commissioning, originally scheduled for 2011, had been deferred year after year.

Beyond Fossil Fuels @beyondfossilfuels.bsky.social @Beyond_Fossils

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.@uniper_energy's #Datteln4 #coal plant will go into operation in 2020, trampling over the 🇩🇪 coal commission’s verdict that no new coal plants should come online & the calls for #climate action by the 1.4m ppl that took part in 🇩🇪's #ClimateStrike.
#BeyondCoal

♥ 21💬 4 31 ott 2019 · Apri su X →

Added to this is the fact that the panel of experts tasked by the chancellor herself with drawing up a road map for phasing out coal by 2038 had explicitly recommended blocking the opening of new plants. An obvious direct reference to Datteln 4, given that it is the last coal-fired power station under construction in Germany.

"A sabotage of climate action"

Not to mention that last September the Berlin government unveiled a 100-billion-euro climate plan. A plan that, although it had been the subject of sharp criticism from environmentalists, had in no way indicated any intention to increase the use of coal. Even if, in practice, only temporarily.

For its part, Uniper says it is ready to bet on the new site, "in the interest of the company and the community." From the government, lips remain sealed. Meanwhile, the Bund association, the German branch of Friends of the Earth, has spoken of "emissions rising by 6–8 million tonnes per year" as a result of the new plant, and of "sabotage" of climate action.