Germany, which is the leader among EU countries in terms of the number of solar power plants installed, is facing an urgent need to return to fossil fuels to stabilise its energy system.
This was stated by German Minister of Economy Katharina Reich, DPA reports.
“We need flexible gas-fired power plants that can produce electricity when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining. And we need them now,” Reich said.
According to her, Germany should urgently organise tenders for the construction of at least 20 GW of gas capacity to guarantee energy security.
The reason for this course was an over-reliance on renewable energy sources, which in times of crisis – such as the recent blackout in Spain – proved unreliable without backup capacity.
“Our passion for the environment has made us forget about the energy balance,” the official stressed.
Reich also pointed to the hidden costs of the “green transformation” – the costs of expanding networks, compensation for failures and maintaining backup coal and gas-fired power plants.
A return to nuclear power is off the table, despite calls from the Christian Democrats. The minister noted that investor confidence has been lost and the decommissioning process is complete.
“Nuclear power is part of the European, but not German, energy mix. This opportunity was lost during the energy crisis, and now we have to live with this fact,” Reich stated.
Germany will continue on its course towards carbon neutrality, but with a correction to prevent a repeat of energy failures that could undermine not only the economy but also public confidence in green policies.
