Germany will fire up coal plants again in an effort to save natural gas.

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

BERLIN — Germany will restart coal-fired power plants in order to conserve natural gas, the country’s economy minister announced on Sunday, amid concerns about a looming supply shortage after Russia cut gas deliveries to Europe this week.

The move was part of a series of measures, including new incentives for companies to burn less natural gas, announced by Germany as Europe takes steps to deal with reduced energy supplies from Russia.

Since European countries imposed sanctions to punish Moscow following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, Russia has responded by cutting off gas supplies to several European countries. Last week, the Russian energy giant Gazprom also reduced flows through the Nord

,,,snip...

“The situation is serious,” Robert Habeck, the economy minister who is also Germany’s vice chancellor, said in a statement on Sunday, laying out the steps that would be taken to ensure that more gas is available to divert into storage so the country has enough to get through the winter. They include bringing back online coal-fired power plants that had been drawn down to reduce carbon emissions, although the statement did not specify how many plants would be affected.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/19/world/europe/germany-coal-power-plants.html

[progree]

1. And France is having trouble with its nukes

French Nuclear Power Crisis Frustrates Europe’s Push to Quit Russian Energy, non-paywalled New York Times, 6/18/22
(it's via MSN so no paywall)

... But the industry has tumbled into an unprecedented power crisis as EDF confronts troubles ranging from the mysterious emergence of stress corrosion inside nuclear plants to a hotter climate that is making it harder to cool the aging reactors.

The outages at EDF, Europe’s biggest electricity exporter, have sent France’s nuclear power output tumbling to its lowest level in nearly 30 years,

The company warned last winter that it could no longer produce a steady nuclear power supply, as it struggled to catch up with a two-year backlog in required maintenance for dozens of aging reactors that was put off during coronavirus lockdowns.

Inspections unearthed alarming safety issues — especially corrosion and faulty welding seals on crucial systems used to cool a reactor’s radioactive core. That was the situation at the Chinon atomic plant, one of France’s oldest, which produces 6 percent of EDF’s nuclear power. EDF is now scouring all its nuclear facilities for such problems. A dozen reactors will stay disconnected for corrosion inspections or repairs that could take months or years. Another 16 remain offline for reviews and upgrades.

More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/french-nuclear-power-crisis-frustrates-europe-s-push-to-quit-russian-energy/ar-AAYBHki

===============================

Nuclear power provides 70% of France's electric power, the biggest such share of any country in the world

Some are having reduced output due to too-warm river water (used for cooling).

Today, French nuclear production is at its lowest level since 1993, generating less than half the 61.4 gigawatts that the fleet is capable of producing.

Problems with the new nukes that EDF is building.

EDF financial problems

I just saw a headline today that much of Western Europe is having an early heat wave.

[progree]

2. The Netherlands will lift all restrictions on coal-fired power stations to cope with a drop in ...

The Netherlands will lift all restrictions on coal-fired power stations to cope with a drop in gas supplies from Russia due to the war in Ukraine, the climate and energy minister said Monday, AFP, 6/20/22

"The cabinet has decided to immediately withdraw the restriction on production for coal-fired power stations from 2002 to 2024. This means that coal-fired power stations can run at full capacity again instead of the maximum of 35 percent," minister Rob Jetten told journalists.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-netherlands-will-lift-all-restrictions-on-coal-fired-power-stations-to-cope-with-a-drop-in-gas-supplies-from-russia-due-to-the-war-in-ukraine-the-climate-and-energy-minister-said-monday/ar-AAYFBal

Short story, no more at link. Hopefully corrections will be made.

"2002 to 2024"

[hueymahl]

3. Thinking Germany is regretting shutting down its nukes

Very short-sighted in my opinion.

[progree]

4. Dutch join Germany, AUSTRIA, in reverting to coal, AFP, 6/20/22

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/dutch-join-germany-austria-in-reverting-to-coal/ar-AAYFu8C?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=d1de802a7cfc42edb60fe78ab4f92771

I had not heard about Austria before which is why I all-capped it in my subject line

Long article.

[rockfordfile]

5. Never should've let Russia get its hooks into them.

[rpannier]

6. Japan is also going to retsart the coal plants

[progree]

7. Netherlands join Germany, Austria, ITALY in reverting to coal amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/netherlands-join-germany-austria-italy-in-reverting-to-coal-amid-russia-s-invasion-of-ukraine/ar-AAYFWNP?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=908310e045ed4c47aa190b4838327203

I bold-faced ITALY since its a new member of the list.

[inwiththenew]

8. Western Europe failed so badly in this it is almost hard to believe

Russia invaded Ukraine 8 years ago. How many of these countries took serious steps for when a showdown with Russia would inevitably occur? From where I sit it looks like almost none of them did.