Electricity generation in Germany is currently dominated by the use of nuclear energy (23%), black coal (20%) and lignite (24%). This structure has resulted from long-term investment decisions and short-term planning. Since, depending on the fuel and the means of operation, the service life of plants can extend to 35 years and more, the composition of the power plant fleet at any specific point in time is the result of commercial, ecological, regional-economic and energy policy factors that often extend far into the past. The short-term planning of power plants within the framework of a given plant fleet depends solely on the variable fuel costs. Compared with other fuels, lignite, nuclear power and hydropower cause relatively low variable costs.
Energy suppliesPower consumption stagnating – share of green electricity is increasing
Projects currently being funded
Materials of construction for steam temperatures of over 700 °C
Lignite drying
CO2 scrubbing (post-combustion capture)
CO2 storage facilities
CO2 capture in oxyfuel coal-fired power plants
Hydrogen gas turbines
Capturing CO2 using coal gasification
Micro gas turbines
Higher temperatures in turbines
Turbine combustion that produces lower amounts of harmful substances
Higher pressure and lower flow losses in turbines
CO2 compressors
International cooperation
Comparison of power plant systems
More efficient generators thanks to nanoparticles
Storing electricity using compressed air
High-temperature heat storage systems for flexible CCGT power plants
More flexibility for low-emission coal-fired power plants