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.
Despite the smattering of temporary reserve coal measures announced by European governments in recent weeks, the number of European coal plants that are already retired or are covered by 2030 at-the-latest closure plans has risen this year to 171.
EU nations have now spent an estimated 60 billion euros on Russian coal, oil, and fossil gas since the country launched its war of aggression against Ukraine over 100 days ago.
The Romanian government has published an emergency law for the phase out of coal by 2030. It is expected to be approved within a month. It constitutes a two year acceleration of the country’s original coal exit plan announced last September, and clears the way for Romania to exploit its enormous solar and wind energy potential.
Slovakia has confirmed that the country’s 266MW Novácky coal power plant will close as planned at the end of 2023, demonstrating that European countries can proceed with their coal phase out plans and reduce their dependence on Russian fossil fuels at the same time.
A new report published today by Europe Beyond Coal and its partners shows that approximately half of Turkey’s open-cast coal mines are suitable for conversion to solar farms. Taken together, they would boost the country’s solar capacity by 170 percent, and produce enough electricity to power 6.9 million homes.
EU nations continue to import an estimated EUR600 million worth of coal, oil, and fossil gas from Russia per day, spending more than EUR9 billion on Russian fossil fuels since it invaded Ukraine on 24 February, according to a new tracking tool launched by Europe Beyond Coal today.
The Czech government has angered local people by accepting 45 million euro in compensation from the Polish government and coal company PGE, in exchange for dropping its lawsuit over their illegally operating Turów coal mine at the EU court of justice (CJEU).
An advisor to the European Court of Justice (CJEU) has said that Poland infringed EU law by extending the licence for its Turow coal mine without carrying out an environmental impact assessment. A final verdict by the CJEU is expected by the spring.