04 October 2022
RWE concedes 2030 coal exit, but still plans to destroy villages and to invest in fossil fuel projects
BERLIN, 4 OCTOBER 2022 – German utility RWE has conceded that it will exit coal by 2030, eight years earlier than previously planned, further confirming Germany’s 2030 coal exit. However, the agreement struck with the federal, and state government for North Rhine-Westphalia will still see RWE destroy the village of Lützerath and commit it to fossil gas investments.
“Today’s concession from RWE sends a clear signal to coal-burning utilities across Europe: there is no place for coal anywhere in Europe beyond 2030, energy crisis or not. But this is no time for celebration. People are facing record energy bills this winter precisely because the likes of RWE have continually chosen to burn more fossil fuels rather than invest in renewable energy solutions that would significantly reduce energy costs,” said Kathrin Gutmann, Campaign Director at Europe Beyond Coal
“While RWE has been forced to concede that 2030 is indeed the end date for coal in Germany, it has managed to talk the German government into approving its plan to pointlessly demolish the village of Lützerath, so it can access coal that can’t be burned if Germany is to deliver on its climate commitments. It also wants to burn even more expensive, imported fossil gas, showing that at heart it is still the same old RWE,” said Wiebke Witt, campaigner in Germany at Europe Beyond Coal. “It’s time to stop playing games with fossil fuels. The only way forward that saves villages, protects people from rising bills, promotes energy security, and addresses climate change is fully committing to a rapid transition to renewable energy.”
Contacts:
Alastair Clewer, Senior Communications Manager, Europe Beyond Coal alastair@beyond-coal.eu, +49 176 433 07 185
Kathrin Gutmann, Campaign Director, Europe Beyond Coal, kathrin@beyond-coal.eu, +49 1577 8363 036
Wiebke Witt, Campaigner in Germany, Europe Beyond Coal (English) (German) wiebke@beyond-coal.eu, +49 176 64977897
Notes:
- RWE statement: https://www.rwe.com/en/press/rwe-ag/2022-10-04-agreement-on-coal-phase-out-2030-and-strengthening-security-of-supply-in-the-energy-crisis
About:
Europe Beyond Coal is an alliance of civil society groups working to ensure a just transition to a fossil-free, fully renewables-based European energy sector. This means exiting coal entirely by 2030 at the latest, and fossil gas by 2035 in the power sector. We devote our time and resources to this independent campaign because we are committed to seeing a European energy system that protects people, nature and our global climate: www.beyond-coal.eu