Explores Possibilities for Power Plant Location in Schkopau, According to Willingmann
Power Plant Strategy Touted as Key to Saxony-Anhalt's Energy Transition
The Schkopau power plant, Saxony-Anhalt's largest, provides electricity and process steam to thousands of households and industries in central Germany. However, with the coal phase-out set to end operations by 2038, or even as early as 2034, the region's Energy Minister, Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann, is urging the federal government to unveil a new power plant strategy.
This strategy should offer a clear vision for the Schkopau site beyond the coal phase-out, as the power plant's heat and power generation is critical for local households and the chemical industry's production. Willingmann asserts that controllable power capacities, particularly during weather-dependent periods for renewable energy, are essential.
One proposition for the Schkopau power plant is its conversion into a hydrogen-capable gas-fired power plant. Nevertheless, this plan hinges on Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck's timely presentation of the new strategy and tenders for new power plant capacities.
The federal government's deliberations over this power plant strategy were initially slated for last year but stalled following the collapse of the traffic light coalition. However, the Berlin coalition agreement now intends to promote the construction of up to 20 gigawatts of gas-fired power plant capacity in a technology-open manner by 2030.
In alignment with this, the agreement specifies that these gas-fired plants should be constructed nationwide, primarily on existing power plant sites, and regionalized according to needs. Schkopau appears to meet these criteria, as it is already a significant power plant site with existing infrastructure and expertise.
In a unanimous resolution, the energy ministers of the federal states emphasized the urgency of these developments. The first tenders should commence this year, with new power plants also required to be hydrogen-capable. They implored the federal government to develop a path for converting power plants to accommodate hydrogen, as hydrogen supply will be crucial for their operation.
The energy ministers also advocated for a stronger utilization of biogas and biomethane, with Saxony-Anhalt being a frontrunner in this regard. Biogas and biomethane are considered controllable and an important complement to the energy mix, making them significant factors in the state's energy portfolio. By pushing for a national strategy for green gases, Saxony-Anhalt underscores the need for long-term prospects for biogas in line with EU requirements.
- To ensure a smooth energy transition, the federal government needs to reveal an economic and social policy that includes a clear vision for the Schkopau power plant's future beyond coal phase-out, considering its critical role in supplying heat and power to local households and the chemical industry.
- In the proposed strategy, controllable power capacities, such as a hydrogen-capable gas-fired power plant for Schkopau, will be crucial, particularly during weather-dependent periods for renewable energy production.
- The federal government, in collaboration with the energy ministers of the federal states, should develop a path for converting power plants to accommodate hydrogen, considering hydrogen supply as essential for the operation of new power plants and aligning with the EU's long-term requirements for green gases.
