Germany is planning to fully power itself using renewable energy and to shut down all of its 84 coal-fired power plants over the next two decades.
This follows the earlier decision to also shut down the 22 nuclear power plants in wake of Fukushima disaster by 2022, only 3 power plants left operation as of 2019.
Fossil fuels, including coal, provides almost 45% of Germany’s overall power needs. With Nuclear and renewable energy making up for the other 55%. So the decision essentially means Germany will switch to only renewable sources of energy.
The planned move is a major shift in the energy policy of Germany, also known as Energiewende, and a massive improvement over its earlier target of 60% renewable energy by 2050. Energiewende itself was deemed ambitious and would have cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80-90%.
“This is an historic accomplishment,”
The announcement marks the end of a 7-month process of discussions in the German government, which was led by Ronald Pofalla the outcome of which was the decision to shut down all coal-fired power plants in Germany by 2038.
The implementation plan is expected to cost roughly $45 billion to ease the transition of regions that predominantly rely on coal energy.
