Germany plans to convert coal plants into renewable energy storage sites
With Germany's coal plants scheduled to close by 2038, operators now face some major decisions about how to restructure energy systems. One idea is to convert polluting power stations into batteries. L. Michael Buchsbaum takes a look.
Since German lignite fuels seven of the EU’s top ten pollutors, if the country is going to seriously reduce its emissions, it has to shut these polluters down—and fast. But given that coal fired plants provide roughly one third of Germany's power, immediately closing them is not feasible.
In addition, these coal plant complexes are a crucial part of regional economies in the lignite fields west of Cologne in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia and the Lusatian coal areas southeast of Berlin in Brandenburg and Saxony. With their operating days now numbered, finding ways to keep workers employed while still generating power is a primary goal of Germany's envisioned "Coal Exit."
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