Germany’s VDEW electricity association has released figures showing coal remains the most significant energy source in the power industry with almost half of the total.
The share of lignite used in generation in 2004 remained stable from 2003 at 26%, but use of hard coal fell to 22% compared with 24% in 2003. Nuclear power contributed a further 28% of capacity in 2004, while renewable energy accounted for 9% with both wind and hydro increasing their contribution.
Meanwhile, Germany’s RWE expects approval from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in the next few months for plans to build a new €2 billion, 2 GW lignite-fired plant.
