Berlin (energate) - The extended coal-fired power generation in the energy crisis is jeopardising the German government's CO2 reduction targets. Greenhouse gas emissions stagnated at 761 million tonnes in 2022, slightly above the target of 756 million tonnes, according to preliminary assessments by the think-tank Agora Energiewende. According to the assessments, the reduction in emissions in 2022 compared to the reference year 1990 was around 39 per cent and thus missed the 2020 savings target of 40 per cent for the second time.
The reason is that the share of coal-fired power generation increased for the third year in a row. As a result, CO2 emissions from the energy industry rose by 8 million to 255 million tonnes, according to Agora. The German Association of Energy and Water Industries, BDEW, had already come to similar conclusions (
energate reported). The main driver was the higher generation of electricity from coal due to sharply increased natural gas prices. Of a total of 302 billion kWh of electricity from conventional power plants, lignite-fired power plants contributed the largest share with 109 billion kWh (+7% compared to 2021). Hard coal-fired power plants produced 20 per cent or 60 billion kWh more electricity.
Economics minister Habeck emphasises need for action
The German economics minister, Robert Habeck (Greens), commented that the figures presented by Agora show a first tendency and highlight the need for action. Despite the energy crisis caused by Putin's war of aggression and the resulting need for additional coal-fired power generation, total emissions in 2022 were slightly lower than in 2021, he said, adding that this was due to significant energy savings and the high share of renewables in the overall German energy mix. Habeck said that according to calculations by Fraunhofer ISE, renewables would cover 49.6 per cent of net electricity generation in 2022 (
energate reported). The Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) arrived at similar figures in an evaluation of the Smard database.
"Alarm signal for climate targets"
According to the evaluation by Agora, energy consumption in Germany fell by 4.7 per cent or 162 billion kWh compared to 2021, partly as a result of massive price increases for natural gas and electricity and mild weather. But CO2 emissions did not decrease because the increased use of coal and oil cancelled out these savings. "CO2 emissions are stagnating at a high level, despite significantly lower energy consumption by households and industry," said Simon Müller, director for Germany at Agora Energiewende, adding that this was an alarm signal with regard to the climate goals.
Buildings and transport remain "problem children"
Minister Habeck said that the buildings and transport sectors proved to be particular "climate sinners", or "problem children" in 2022 as well, according to another result of the evaluation. With 113 million tonnes of CO2 (-16% compared to 2021), the buildings sector exceeded the sector target by 5 million tonnes. The savings success in natural gas consumption compared to the previous year led to a decrease in emissions of 7 million tonnes compared to 2021, but could not compensate for years of neglect in the heat transition, the report continued. In the transport sector, CO2 emissions of 150 million tonnes were clearly above the permitted value of 139 million tonnes. The reasons for the missed target were the increase in traffic volume after the Corona decline and the lack of political measures to reduce emissions. /am
