Germany approves return of lignite power plants

By Bahattin Gonultas

BERLIN (AA) - Germany's ministerial Cabinet has approved the resumption of lignite-fired power in the event of winter energy shortages, the country's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action said on Wednesday.

The plants will be brought online if necessary between October and the end of March 2024.

The German government reconnected a total of 1.9-gigawatt backup lignite power plants to the grid last winter after natural gas deliveries from Moscow were almost completely halted due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

As lignite power plants emit much more carbon than natural gas power plants, the government will make proposals by next summer on how to balance the increased carbon dioxide that these plants will produce this winter.

*Writing by Basak Erkalan in Ankara