Capacity and emission implications of re-opening coal power plants in the EU 2023
In 2022, the German, Dutch, Austrian, and French governments announced emergency gas saving measures amid the European energy crisis, and potential disruptions in gas deliveries stemming from the Russian-Ukraine war. These measures include diverting fossil gas from use in power generation to strategic gas reserves.
To make up for lost power generation capacity, these governments have placed 26 coal-fired power plants with a total installed capacity of 13,470 megawatts on standby status. In a scenario in which these plants run at 65% capacity in 2023, an additional 30.7 million tons of CO₂ would be emitted.
To make up for lost power generation capacity, these governments have placed 26 coal-fired power plants with a total installed capacity of 13,470 megawatts on standby status. In a scenario in which these plants run at 65% capacity in 2023, an additional 30.7 million tons of CO₂ would be emitted.
