Germany Set to Pay More Coal Plants to Prevent Blackouts.

Germany's plans to phase out coal face a potential setback as the country's energy regulator predicts a need for more fossil-fuel power plants to prevent blackouts. The regulator estimates that Germany will require 9.2 gigawatts of reserve capacity to cover shortfalls in wind and solar generation during the 2026/27 winter period, double the amount from the previous season. While Germany aims to eliminate coal entirely by 2030, companies have expressed concerns about the availability of alternative power sources. The country's reliance on coal and gas plants for backup power is due to delays in grid expansion and the closure of nuclear plants. Germany plans to build new gas power plants that can later switch to hydrogen, but the timeline for their operation remains uncertain. [Extracted from the article]