SPD, Greens and FDP
According to the traffic light contract, the coal phase-out will “ideally” come by 2030
The lignite power plant in Jänschwalde near Cottbus. So far, the coal phase-out is planned by 2038 at the latest. The traffic light coalition wants to prefer him.
© senorcampesino / Getty Images
The SPD, Greens and FDP have presented their joint coalition agreement. Central climate goals are also listed in the paper – including the planned phase-out of coal.
The SPD, Greens and FDP are striving for an early coal phase-out to 2030. “In order to meet the climate protection goals, an accelerated phase-out of coal-fired power generation is necessary. Ideally, this will be achieved by 2030,” says the coalition agreement of the three parties presented on Wednesday. According to this, an early phase-out of coal should be achieved through a massive expansion of renewable energies and the construction of modern gas-fired power plants.
Renewable energies should enable coal to be produced earlier
So far it has been legally agreed that Germany will phase out coal-fired power generation by 2038 at the latest. The higher climate protection targets and rising CO2 prices would increasingly restrict the scope for such a late phase out of coal, according to the contract. “This requires the massive expansion of renewable energies that we are striving for and the construction of modern gas-fired power plants in order to cover the increasing demand for electricity and energy over the next few years at competitive prices,” says the contract text. The share of renewable energies in electricity consumption is to increase to 80 percent by 2030; it is currently around 45 percent.
According to the agreement, the gas-fired power plants planned until security of supply are also to be built at previous power plant locations. “They have to be built in such a way that they can be converted to climate-neutral gases (H2-ready),” is one of the specifications.
In addition, the traffic light parties have agreed to support the coal areas with a faster exit. “The regions affected, as well as those affected by coal mining, can continue to count on solidarity-based support,” says the contract. Some measures to strengthen the regions should be brought forward. According to the contract, there should not be any additional compensation for companies in addition to the previously promised services. Billions in aid have already been approved for structural change in the coal regions.