Germany has been forced to restart mothballed coal-fired power plants in response to possible natural gas shortages during the winter.

At the same time, under the influence of extreme weather, energy crisis, geopolitics and many other factors, some European countries

have restarted coal power generation. How do you view the “backsliding” of many countries on the issue of emission reduction? In the

context of promoting green energy transformation, how to leverage the role of coal, properly handle the relationship between coal control

and achieving climate goals, improve energy independence and ensure energy security? As the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United

Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is about to be held, this issue explores the implications of restarting coal power for

my country’s energy transformation and achieving the “double carbon” goal.

Carbon emission reduction cannot reduce energy security

Advancing carbon peak and carbon neutrality does not mean giving up coal. Germany’s restart of coal power tells us that energy security

must be in our own hands.

Recently, Germany decided to restart some shut down coal-fired power plants to prevent power shortages in the coming winter. This shows

that the carbon emission reduction policies of Germany and the entire EU have given way to national political and economic interests.

Restarting coal power is a helpless move

Just before the Russian-Ukrainian conflict began, the European Union launched an ambitious energy plan that promised to significantly

reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the share of renewable energy in power generation from 40% to 45% by 2030. Reduce

carbon emissions to 55% of 1990 emissions, get rid of dependence on Russian fossil fuels, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Germany has always been a leader in reducing carbon emissions globally. In 2011, then-German Chancellor Merkel announced that

Germany would shut down all 17 nuclear power plants by 2022. Germany would become the first major industrialized country in the

world to abandon nuclear power generation in the past 25 years. In January 2019, the German Coal Withdrawal Commission announced

that all coal-fired power plants would be closed by 2038. Germany has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40% of 1990

emission levels by 2020, achieve a 55% reduction target by 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality in the energy industry by 2035, that is,

the proportion of renewable energy power generation 100%, achieving full carbon neutrality by 2045. Not only Germany, but also many

European countries have pledged to phase out coal as soon as possible in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. For example,

Italy has pledged to phase out coal by 2025, and the Netherlands has pledged to phase out coal by 2030.

However, after the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the EU, especially Germany, had to make major adjustments to its carbon emission reduction

policy out of the need to confront Russia.

From June to July 2022, the EU Energy Ministers’ Meeting has revised the 2030 renewable energy share target back to 40%. On July 8, 2022,

the German Parliament canceled the target of 100% renewable energy power generation in 2035, but the goal of achieving comprehensive

carbon neutrality in 2045 remains unchanged. In order to balance, the proportion of renewable energy in 2030 will also be increased.

The target was raised from 65% to 80%.

Germany relies more on coal power than other developed Western economies. In 2021, Germany’s renewable energy power generation

accounted for 40.9% of the total power generation and has become the most important source of electricity, but the proportion of coal

power is second only to renewable energy. After the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Germany’s natural gas power generation continued to decline,

from a peak of 16.5% in 2020 to 13.8% in 2022. In 2022, Germany’s coal power generation will rise again to 33.3% after falling to 30% in

2019. Due to the uncertainty surrounding renewable energy generation, coal-fired power generation remains very important to Germany.

Germany has no choice but to restart coal power. In the final analysis, the EU imposed sanctions on Russia in the energy field after the

Russia-Ukraine conflict, which caused high natural gas prices. Germany cannot withstand the pressure brought by high-priced natural

gas for a long time, which makes the competitiveness of German manufacturing industry continue to increase. decline and the economy

is in recession.

Not only Germany, but Europe is also restarting coal power. On June 20, 2022, the Dutch government stated that in response to the energy

crisis, it would lift the output cap on coal-fired power plants. The Netherlands previously forced coal-fired power plants to operate at 35%

of maximum power generation to limit carbon dioxide emissions. After the cap on coal-fired energy production is lifted, coal-fired power plants

can operate at full capacity until 2024, saving a lot of natural gas. Austria is the second European country to completely phase out coal

power generation, but imports 80% of its natural gas from Russia. Faced with a shortage of natural gas, the Austrian government had to

restart a coal-fired power plant that had been shut down. Even France, which mainly relies on nuclear power, is preparing to restart coal

power to ensure stable power supply.

The United States is also “reversing” on the road to carbon neutrality. If the United States is to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, it needs

to reduce carbon emissions by at least 57% within 10 years. The U.S. government has set a goal to reduce carbon emissions to 50% to 52%

of 2005 levels by 2030. However, carbon emissions increased by 6.5% in 2021 and 1.3% in 2022.