Gas power plants in focus: Minister Reiche defends controversial plans!

Gas power plants in focus: Minister Reiche defends controversial plans!

Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche has defended the federal government's controversial plans to build new gas power plants. This initiative is considered essential as the phase-out of coal use is imminent due to climate protection measures and rising CO2 prices. Reiche emphasizes that a long-term gas supply must be ensured in order to guarantee the required guaranteed performance, reports South Germans.

The minister is thus complying with a requirement from the coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD, which provides for the construction of new gas power plants with a total output of up to 20 gigawatts. Despite accusations of lobbying made by opposition politicians from the Greens and Left, Reiche remains convinced of the need for carbon capture (CCS) and utilization (CCU). CCS refers to the storage of carbon dioxide in deep layers of the earth, while CCU involves the use of CO2 as a raw material for various processes.

Criticism from opposition parties

The reactions from the opposition show that the plans are not without controversy. The Green MP Tobias Goldschmidt described the initiative as a “walkthrough by the gas lobby”. In addition, Lorenz Gösta Beutin from the Left expressed sharp criticism by accusing the federal government of sacrificing climate goals in favor of fossil interests. These disputes highlight the deep fissures that the issue of energy supply is causing in the current political landscape.

Challenges of CO2 storage

In Germany, the discussion about CO2 capture and storage is triggered by the publication of a “carbon management strategy” by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, which also envisages the use of CCS in gas power plants. However, the chances of successfully implementing this technology are poor as it is only used to a limited extent worldwide. How Climate reporter reported, there was already a failed attempt in Germany in 2010 to store CO2 emissions from new coal-fired power plants, which led to CCS being effectively banned.

International experience also shows that projects using this technology, such as the Norwegian Sleipner project, have been running for many years, but are not without challenges. Studies show that CO2 capture in gas power plants is particularly complex due to the lower proportion of CO2 in the exhaust gases. There are also concerns about the economic and health impacts that could arise from using CCS in gas combustion processes.

Concerns about the cost of CCS and dependence on fossil fuels are leading to increased discussion about alternative energy sources. Geothermal power plants and innovative electricity storage technologies are being considered as serious alternatives. These considerations could increase the pressure on the federal government's gas power plant plans in the long term.