> coal generation collapsed
Coal generation was taxed out by EU Emissions Trading System, physical costs of mining lignite in Germany and operating coal power plants are the same as 20 years ago. (and the health impacts are still very negative)
https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/german-regulator-says-n...
> nuclear disappeared
Nuclear in Germany disappeared not for economic reasons, but for political reasons.
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Following a wide public debate, the Atomic Energy Act was amended accordingly on April 22, 2002.
The aim was to phase out nuclear energy for the commercial generation of electricity in an orderly manner. To this end, each nuclear power plant was assigned a residual electricity volume such that the total output of the respective plant corresponded to an average 32-year lifetime. The construction of new nuclear power plants was banned altogether.
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https://www.base.bund.de/en/nuclear-safety/nuclear-phase-out...
The objective in Germany changes over time, in the 2000s it was removing nuclear power from electric grid, without much consideration for CO2 emissions. (
Construction of the last new coal power plant in Germany, Datteln 4, began in November 2007. Entered commercial operation on May 30, 2020)
https://www.powermag.com/germany-brings-last-new-coal-plant-...
Now in 2026, it's slowly removing fossil fuels from electric grid and the whole industry. I say slowly, because state subsidies are already allocated for construction of new gas power plants in Germany.
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Germany will initially hold two sets of auctions for new backup power plants with a combined capacity of 11 gigawatts (GW). Of these, the first tenders (8 September and at the end of December 2026), covering 9 GW, are aimed at so-called "long-term capacity", which is capable of supplying electricity continuously over an extended period, ensuring that even prolonged periods without sufficient renewable energy generation can be covered. It is likely that only gas-fired power plants will be successful in these auctions. Successful bidders receive remuneration for having electricity available once a facility is built, providing the financial incentive needed to invest in the first place.
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https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germany-passes-law-subs...