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Germany is set to spend €16 billion to construct four gas-fired power plants as it seeks to ensure an adequate supply of electricity after scrapping its nuclear reactors, the Economy Ministry announced earlier this week.
This comes as part of a major overhaul of the country's energy grid, according to the ministry.
The new gas-fired power plants will subsequently be converted to run on hydrogen between 2035 and 2040. A market-based capacity-boosting mechanism will allow power generation to be expanded by 2028, German officials said in a statement.
The plants will have a total capacity of up to 10 gigawatts (GW), which will come "in addition to the consistent expansion of renewable energies," and are expected to be vital to ensuring steady electricity supplies "even in times where there is little sun and wind."
German energy utility Uniper, which will reportedly be involved in the construction, said it was "relieved" that the decision to build the new plants has been made, adding that "swift action is urgently needed because the approval process and the actual construction of power plants and storage facilities will take several years."
The EU's top economy, which prior to the Ukraine conflict fueled its industry with Russian gas, had to ramp up electricity imports last year after the government decided to scrap nuclear power as it moves toward renewable energy sources.
Last April, Germany shut down its last three nuclear reactors despite warnings that doing so would actually cause more fossil fuels to be burned.
Germany has set itself a target of cutting greenhouse emissions by 65% by 2030, a plan even more ambitious than the one set by the EU as a whole. However, a report last year by the Federal Environment Agency showed that the goal is likely to be missed as the protracted energy crisis has pushed the switch to renewables in the country down the agenda.
Comment: Who do you think the sanctions against Russia work for? Perhaps that is rhetorical question, but if the situation is: How Russia won the sanctions war with the West and Macron admits EU's Russia sanctions have failed what to think when the EU chief opposes Ukraine truce - wants more weapons, sanctions and war Who are these people working for if they deny it is Russia?
See also:
Biden's attack on Nord Stream pipelines was aimed at Germany - Seymour Hersh (Many links in the comments)
Man dies after being attacked by an American Bully XL in Geesthacht, Germany (Symbolic?)
Sweden halts Nord Stream investigation, hands off to Germany, as Hersh fills in more blanks
Loss of Russian gas speeding Germany's deindustrialization - media
'Germany is in trouble': Highest corporate bankruptcy in Europe, inflation, energy costs, threatens more sectors - Bloomberg
Germany's economy is dying. Here's why and what happens next
EU style democracy: Germany demands 'loyalty' from Hungary - Politico
Korybko: Poland fearmongering about war with Russia to justify subordinating itself to Germany
Deluded Germany preparing for potential Russia-NATO war - Bild
Why NATO's 'Military Schengen' evokes memories of Nazi Germany's anti-Russia past
Germany went all in on the green transition. Now, its economy is crumbling
Medvedev: Germany could face its own 'Maidan' due to budget shortfall from funding Ukraine war