Germany Lost in Energy Plans, Greens Say

Germany’s energy policies are a conundrum not led by efficiency computations, a member of the opposition Green party told Bloomberg. 

“What we are seeing is the schizophrenic situation of the renaissance of lignite plants while efficient power plants don’t get a chance to enter the market,” Stefan Wenzel said.

RWE is planning to take power stations offline, adjusting to lower margin due to the boom in the solar energy, weak European electricity demand and lower power prices. German utilities are turning to relatively cheaper coal. 

Europe’s biggest economy is phasing out from its nuclear program, striving to find its way to achieve a balanced portfolio. Renewable generation remains pivotal, with the share of green energy passing from 15% in 2008 to 23% in 2012. 

According to data compiled by Bloomberg, German utilities and factories emitted 452 million metric tons of carbon dioxide last year, the most since 2008.

Wenzel claimed that Germany’s renewable policies fostered carbon emissions by boosting coal-fed electricity generation.

Europe “needs to make sure that the dirtiest fossil power plants go offline first, along with nuclear plants,” Wenzel said, suggesting that gas should remain a central part of the energy mix.