Energy
German Coal Exit Risks Delay If Gas Tenders Stall, Uniper Says
- First auctions for gas plant expansion due early next year
- Uniper CEO says tenders needed so it can close coal plants
A coal and gas power plant in Grosskrotsenberg, Germany.
Photographer: Ben Kilb/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Germany’s efforts to ditch coal for power generation risk delays if the country doesn’t soon move ahead with tenders for its planned expansion of natural gas plants, according to energy firm Uniper SE.
The German utility, which currently still runs several coal-powered facilities in the country, can’t completely close these until it’s built replacement gas plants as they are needed for system stability, Chief Executive Officer Michael Lewis said in an interview at Houston’s Gastech conference.