Germany’s record-breaking renewables push fossil fuel plants to close

[G_j]

http://tcktcktck.org/2013/08/germanys-record-breaking-renewables-push-fossil-fuel-plants-to-close/56320


Germany’s record-breaking renewables push fossil fuel plants to close

Tierney Smith • August 22, 2013 • 0 Comments

Germany’s renewable energy industry has again shown its strength, shattering through another solar power record, as utility company RWE announces it will close fossil fuel power plants as they are no longer competitive.

RWE said 3.1 GW of generating capacity would be taken offline, as it suspends or shuts down some of its gas and coal-fired power stations. This represents 6% of RWE’s total capacity.

It said a boom in solar energy meant many of its power stations were no longer profitable.

RWE’s statement read:

Due to the continuing boom in solar energy, many power stations throughout the sector and across Europe are no longer profitable to operate. During the first half of 2013, the conventional power generation division’s operating result fell by almost two-thirds.

German rival E.On has also said it has shut down or left idle 6.5 GW of generating capacity.

And as fossil fuels show signs of decline in Germany, the country’s record-breaking renewables sector continues to show its strength.

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[Harmony Blue]

1. The sad thing is that the United States has far more greater

access to solar energy due to sheer size, geography, weather, and climate. So much untapped potential is just sitting there on the sidelines.