Germany Revives Coal as Energy Security Trumps Climate Goals
Bloomberg reports Germany Revives Coal as Energy Security Trumps Climate Goals
Europe’s largest economy is burning the fossil fuel for electricity at the fastest pace in at least six years, data compiled by Bloomberg show. It’s also poised to be one of the few nations to increase coal imports next year.
Across the globe, highly polluting — and relatively cheap — coal is making a comeback as countries seek to prevent soaring energy costs from triggering an economic meltdown.
“Everyone is keeping their climate targets, but it’s true that when you face the dilemma to keep the lights on or decrease carbon emissions, the choice is to keep the lights on,” said Carlos Fernandez Alvarez, the acting head of gas, coal and power at the International Energy Agency.
Germany now generates more than a third of its electricity from coal-fired power plants, according to Destatis, the federal statistical office. In the third quarter, its electricity from the fuel was 13.3% higher than the same period a year earlier, the agency said.
“The coal phase-out ideally by 2030 is not in question,” a spokeswoman for the German Economy Ministry said in a statement. “Against the backdrop of the crisis situation, the most important thing is that we have apparently succeeded in consuming significantly less energy in 2022, especially natural gas.”
At times this month, German electricity became as polluting as power produced in South Africa and India, after lower wind speeds curbed renewable generation and coal consumption spiked, according to Electricity Maps, an app that aggregates grid data.
Hoot of the Day
“The most important thing is that we have apparently succeeded in consuming significantly less energy in 2022, especially natural gas.”
Really?
Why is Germany building more liquid natural gas LNG terminals?
Please note that we take natural gas in the US, liquify it to LNG via energy-consuming compression, then ship it across the Atlantic Ocean to Germany in diesel-powered ships.
Given the nuclear reactor issues in France, Germany finds it self in the unusual position of being a net exporter of electricity to the rest of the EU.
This is the first time since 1990.
Weasel Statements
“The coal phase-out ideally by 2030 is not in question,” said the German Economy ministry.
Ideally by 2030 is not in question, but what about actual practice? Is that in question?
EU Imposes the World’s Largest Carbon Tax Scheme
Meanwhile, please note EU Imposes the World’s Largest Carbon Tax Scheme, Inflationary Madness Sets In
To prevent “carbon leakage” the European Parliament reached a deal on a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, CBAM for short.
Neither a Tax Nor a Tariff
The EU says CBAM is neither a tax nor a tariff. It’s an “adjustment mechanism” to “level the playing field“.
This means top trading partners like the U.S. will now face a steep carbon bill when docking at the ports of Rotterdam or Antwerp.
The EU is Very Worried About Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
On November 30, I commented The EU is Very Worried About Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Tit for Tat?
Perhaps CBAM is the EU’s way of striking back at the US for Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act that illegally subsidizes US manufacturers detrimental to the EU.
More likely, it’s just economic stupidity across the board as noted in Al Gore and John Kerry Aim to Hijack the World Bank for Climate Agenda
On November 12, president Biden’s climate ambassador, John Kerry, made this statement:
“It’s a well-known fact that the United States and many other countries will not establish…some sort of legal structure that is tied to compensation or liability. That’s just not happening.“
Guess what happened.
For the answer, please consider President Biden, the UN, and the Climate Lobby Seek to Spread More Fossil Fuel Misery
Three Things CBAM Will Do
- Increase inflation
- Reduce global trade
- Hammer developing countries
And the one thing it will not do is much of anything, if anything at all, for the environment.
50 Years of Dire Predictions
Finally, Let’s Review 50 Years of Dire Climate Forecasts and What Actually Happened
Many of the predictions are outrageously funny, especially AOC’s 2019 announcement that the world will end in 12 years.
This post originated at MishTalk.Com.
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