Germany May Need Standby Coal Plants for Longer Than Planned

Germany may have to rely on standby coal-fired power generation longer than previously expected, to keep its power system stable and power prices from spikes when renewable output is low. The German plans to build new natural gas-fired power plants are behind schedule while the reserve margins on the system have shrunk since Europe’s biggest economy shut down its last nuclear power plant in 2023. Without alternatives for backup generation to secure power supply at peak demand and low wind speeds, coal plants could be needed into the 2030s,…