Germany looks to phase-out of coal power by 2038

Coal fired power station (Getty Images)

The world’s fourth largest economy, Germany, is planning to phase out coal fired power stations by 2038 and possibly by 2035. The deal was made with the Coal Commission as part of the country’s Climate Action Plan 2050, which aims to have the country’s economy close to CO₂ neutral by 2050.

Germany has managed to rapidly increase the share of renewable power to around 40 percent of the electricity it uses, and has even covered its entire power use with green sources over short periods. But the country must also phase out coal to fulfil its climate pledges, as the rapid roll-out of renewables alone has not lowered greenhouse emissions sufficiently.

The use of coal is not the only blemish on Germany’s emission record – two additional government commissions will now work out how to clean up transport and heating, where agreements are widely considered to be even more difficult.

Read More: Germany eyes coal exit by 2038 in bid for climate-friendly economy. RenewEconomy January 29, 2019.