Germany Returns to Coal as Energy Security Trumps Climate Goals

 Germany is returning to coal

• Germany is consuming coal at the fastest pace in almost six years as it becomes one of the few countries to increase imports of the fuel in 2023.
• Global coal consumption hit a record high of over 8 billion tonnes this year, said the International Energy Agency (IEA).
• Despite the spike in coal use in the European Union, carbon emissions for November were at their lowest in 30 years

Germany Faces Severe Energy Crisis

• Germany is attempting to balance the short-term priority of boosting energy security while keeping with its long-term "net-zero emissions" goals.
• Approximately 36.3 percent of the electricity on the German power grid comes from coal-fired plants, up from 31.9 percent in the third quarter of 2021
• Coal-to-power generation output rose by 13.3% year over year to 42.9tWh in the same period

Berlin Delays Shutting Down Nuclear and Coal

• Domestic nuclear output fell during the third quarter after Germany reduced the number of its active reactors to three from six a year earlier due to Berlin’s decision to phase out the technology following the Fukushima disaster.
• Due to maintenance problems at French nuclear power plants, Germany has become, for the first time this year, a net exporter of electricity to France.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/germany-returns-to-coal-as-energy-security-trumps-climate-goals_4940198.html