The IG-BCE boss calls for a reliable energy transition.
(Photo: imago images/Rainer Weisflog)
Berlin According to the Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union (IG BCE), the acceleration of the energy transition planned by the federal government will only be possible with a radical expansion of gas-fired power plants. What is needed is nothing less than a doubling of today’s capacities of around 30 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, said IG-BCE boss Michael Vassiliadis at his union’s annual press conference. Around 3000 additional gas turbines would have to be installed. “This is the largest thermal power addition in history,” Vassiliadis said.
Vassiliadis thus formulates what the federal government is also striving for in a similar way. Even if Germany is to become climate-neutral by 2045, the SPD, Greens and FDP consider natural gas to be indispensable for a transitional period. In their coalition agreement, they agreed to speed up the construction of modern gas-fired power plants.
Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) announced two major legislative packages by the summer last week. However, Vassiliadis was disappointed with the previous plans, which did not contain anything concrete about the expansion of gas-fired power generation: “To be honest, I expected a bit more.”
The federal government apparently wants to absorb fluctuations in the energy supply primarily by importing electricity and – if necessary – by temporarily switching off large industrial electricity consumers.
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“Anyone who thinks they can solve the problem of fluctuating feed-ins by importing nuclear power from France and coal-fired power from Poland, while at the same time disconnecting our energy-intensive factories from the grid and sending our colleagues on short-time work, will meet our resolute resistance,” said Vassiliadis.
Vassiliadis calls for summits with energy-intensive industry
For a transitional period, Germany needs “all the electricity we can get,” emphasized the trade unionist. Although a renaissance of nuclear power in Germany is extremely unlikely for political and economic reasons, one should not demonize nuclear power imports from France.
Politicians should also think carefully about whether they really want to burn “green” hydrogen while it is scarce, just to make gas-fired power generation a bit more climate-friendly. As part of its taxonomy, the EU Commission only wants to classify investments in gas-fired power plants as climate-friendly if the gas comes from renewable sources or has low emissions after 2035. With such requirements, the necessary gas power plant expansion is “torpedoed”.
Vassiliadis was critical of the high energy prices, which are already an existential threat to many companies in the paper, glass, ceramics and aluminum industries. Since the trade unionist does not expect any real easing on this price front, he called on Minister of Economics Habeck to quickly hold a summit with the energy-intensive industry.
In order to maintain confidence in the energy and climate transition, the federal government must quickly relieve companies and consumers, for example by faster abolition of the EEG surcharge or tax deferrals. The heating cost subsidy planned by the traffic light groups for housing benefit recipients is correct, but not enough, said Vassiliadis. The IG-BCE boss spoke out in favor of relieving households with a gross annual income of up to 50,000 euros once with energy checks. In his opinion, this should best be done simply via the tax return.
More: Habeck’s balancing act – How the minister wants to inspire business for his climate protection policy