Two lignite units complete Germany's security standby

The last two of a group of eight lignite power plant units are entering Germany’s security standby, reports news agency dpa. RWE’s unit C at the Neurath power plant was taken offline on 28 September and Leag’s Jänschwalde E follows today (30 September). They will be placed on reserve, as decided in 2015. “As reliably as we produced electricity with the block, we keep our promises and thus contribute to achieving our climate targets,” said Jänschwalde plant manager Tilman Bechthold in a RWE press release. “In the event of a supply crisis, we can quickly bring the block back online.”

In order to save CO2 emissions in the power sector, the government agreed with utilities to put old and inefficient lignite plants with a total capacity of 2.7 GW on temporary “security standby”, starting with the first stations in 2016. The plants are mothballed for four years before being closed down permanently. The plants will only be called upon as a very last resort, such as in the case of long-lasting, extreme weather events. The government expects this measure to reduce CO2 emissions by 11 million to 12.5 million tonnes in 2020. Utilities will be reimbursed lost profits while their plants are on standby.