The document says "generation". I though Germany imported a lot of their electricity. I can't tell if these numbers include the source of the imported power.
Coal and fossil fuel use in Germany at a record low for electricity in 2023
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Re: Coal and fossil fuel use in Germany at a record low for electricity in 2023
#12And by "record low", we mean "nearly six times that of neighboring France." Compare: https://www.energy-charts.info/charts/energy/chart.htm?l=en&...
Unsurprising, given the countries' opposing views on nuclear power.
Re: Coal and fossil fuel use in Germany at a record low for electricity in 2023
#13Could still be better. Having the same level of CO2e per GWh over the last 12 months as the USA is kind of embarrassing for an EU member state. https://app.electricitymaps.com/zone/DE https://app.electricitymaps.com/zone/US (You need to set the time period to last 12 months, not sure if you can encode that into the URL)
They phased on nuclear too early - other than that they're RAPIDLY moving in the right direction, as is the US.
Re: Coal and fossil fuel use in Germany at a record low for electricity in 2023
#14Could still be better. Having the same level of CO2e per GWh over the last 12 months as the USA is kind of embarrassing for an EU member state. https://app.electricitymaps.com/zone/DE https://app.electricitymaps.com/zone/US (You need to set the time period to last 12 months, not sure if you can encode that into the URL)
It isn't a fair comparison as Germany has terrible geography in comparison to the US for energy generation, and certain energy sources like hydropower are very efficient, but not possible to replicate given the environmental impact.
Hell, even solar generation in Germany isn't anywhere as good as the US, where it can build solar parks in the south, meanwhile most of Germany has what, 6 hours of daylight during winter?
To me, it's absurd that the US has literally the best geography of any country in the world and yet isn't coal-free.
It has even a river that divides the country. It's almost as if it was hand-drawn by god. With mountainy regions, hot and cold areas, deserts and tropical areas, America you have no excuse and can do better.
Re: Coal and fossil fuel use in Germany at a record low for electricity in 2023
#15And by "record low", we mean "nearly six times that of neighboring France." Compare: https://www.energy-charts.info/charts/energy/chart.htm?l=en&...
Yeah because France uses Nuclear, Germany does not and energy is expensive AF there.
Re: Coal and fossil fuel use in Germany at a record low for electricity in 2023
#16Wait, what? Whatever happened to all the coal fired power plants Germany is going to spin up to keep us all warm and toasty?
A huge problem with the German coal phase-out by 2038 ("ideally by 2030") is that the law doesn't prohibit exporting coal. So with every coal plant that's shut down, coal becomes cheaper and will be burned by someone else.
We're doomed.
Re: Coal and fossil fuel use in Germany at a record low for electricity in 2023
#17Wait, what? Whatever happened to all the coal fired power plants Germany is going to spin up to keep us all warm and toasty?
Yeah I have the same question. My understanding is they had to bring more coal online to offset shutting down nuclear. What gives?
well.. its actually a bit more complex than that. The TLDR is that the slack of nuclear was picked up by renewables (mostly wind). the slightly more complicated reason is that wind often was kept off in favor of non-throttle-able base-loads like coal and nuclear. Now with the latter out of the picture the slack has to be taken up my either expensive NGAS or wind. NGAS can be throttled somewhat quickly so if there is wind its now used.
This suddenly reveals the true capacities that were there all along.
Re: Coal and fossil fuel use in Germany at a record low for electricity in 2023
#18And by "record low", we mean "nearly six times that of neighboring France." Compare: https://www.energy-charts.info/charts/energy/chart.htm?l=en&...
Unsurprising, given the countries' opposing views on nuclear power.
However, in 2023, Germany has for the first time produced most of its electrical power (52%) from renewable energy sources [1].
[1] https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/germanys-2023-renewa...
Re: Coal and fossil fuel use in Germany at a record low for electricity in 2023
#19Could still be better. Having the same level of CO2e per GWh over the last 12 months as the USA is kind of embarrassing for an EU member state. https://app.electricitymaps.com/zone/DE https://app.electricitymaps.com/zone/US (You need to set the time period to last 12 months, not sure if you can encode that into the URL)
It isn't a fair comparison as Germany has terrible geography in comparison to the US for energy generation, and certain energy sources like hydropower are very efficient, but not possible to replicate given the environmental impact. Hell, even solar generation in Germany isn't anywhere as good as the US, where it can build solar parks in the south, meanwhile most of Germany has what, 6 hours of daylight during winter…
The US also has got enormous and inexhaustible (all together) coal mines, and oil fields of course. The price of natural gas is negative in some parts of Texas.
Re: Coal and fossil fuel use in Germany at a record low for electricity in 2023
#20The document says "generation". I though Germany imported a lot of their electricity. I can't tell if these numbers include the source of the imported power.
Interesting context I would like to know