Germany Plans to Temporarily Bring Reserve Coal and Oil Plants Back to the Power Market to Save Gas
Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Katherina Reiche, has proposed draft legislation that would temporarily bring coal- and oil-fired power plants held as grid reserves back into the electricity market when natural gas supplies are tight, in order to reduce gas consumption. The draft drew attention when it was reported in November.
According to the ministry draft reported by Politico, dated October 16, the justification is the escalation in the Middle East and the tense supply situation. The draft argues that letting reserve units generate for a limited period during a gas shortage would conserve gas for industry and household heating, complementing the tools of Germany's Gas Emergency Plan; it does not hide that coal and oil units emit significantly more carbon than gas plants.
The draft also sets limits: the federal government must first declare the Alert or Emergency level of the Gas Emergency Plan before reserve plants can enter the market, and already decommissioned coal plants are not to be revived. The draft has not been finalized.
Bloomberg separately reported that lawmakers from Germany's governing coalition had agreed to review reactivating standby coal plants as part of efforts to reduce energy prices.
(Source: Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs)
Source: Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：德国勃兰登堡州延施瓦尔德燃煤电站（资料图）。照片：Isohypse，CC0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The Jänschwalde coal-fired power station in Brandenburg, Germany (file photo). Photo by Isohypse, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Follow-Up: Nasser Hospital Strike Toll Rises to Six; IDF Says Target Was Hamas Brigade Commander, Hamas Denies Military Use of Hospital2026-11-12
UK Foreign Office Moves on November 12: Foreign Secretary Speaks on Climate Security at COP31, UK Statements on Moldova and Gaza, E-Commerce Treaty Laid Before Parliament2026-11-12