Why did the German government spend money to blow up a brand-new, state-of-the-art coal-fired power plant?

The Green Party staunchly opposed connecting the power plant to the national grid, as it refused to accept electricity generated from coal-fired plants—ultimately permitting connection of only 16% of the plant’s total generating capacity. Subsequently, various environmental NGOs, animal protection NGOs, and river conservation associations staged continuous protests at the plant. Because it could not be connected to the grid, Vattenfall—the Swedish state-owned enterprise and largest shareholder of the plant—could not generate revenue, prompting its plan to sell the plant at a discount. In January 2021, the German parliament passed the Coal Exit Law (the ‘coal phase-out plan’), mandating that the German Federal Network Agency ensure the shutdown, closure, workforce reduction, and output curtailment of coal-fired power plants—while simultaneously offering them financial incentives and subsidies. In other words, Germany first spent vast sums building coal-fired power plants, then spent more money blowing them up. Is this rational behavior? Recall that when the Moorburg Power Plant first entered operation, it was hailed globally as a benchmark for coal-fired power generation. In 2017 and 2018, several Chinese power companies sent delegations to Germany for exchanges and learning; the Moorburg Power Plant was invariably the top recommendation by German authorities. Chancellor Merkel’s government hoped to export these advanced technologies overseas and pursue market cooperation. Chinese technical teams studied diligently in Hamburg. Yet who could have imagined that Germany itself would demolish the Moorburg Power Plant just a few years later? Some might ask: Why go so far? Why not simply shut it down? In extreme circumstances, it could even be restarted as an emergency measure. That suggestion would infuriate the Greens: ‘Restart?’ Do you intend to keep a backdoor open? If greenness isn’t absolute, it’s utterly un-green. Before the coal phase-out, Germans weren’t so irrational—they retained several coal-fired power plants (albeit idled or suspended). In February 2022, the Russia-Ukraine military conflict erupted, prompting Germany to completely sever its energy ties with Russia. This triggered domestic electricity shortages and skyrocketing electricity prices. Consequently, the LEAG power plant in Cottbus, RWE and STEAG power plants in Essen, and the Uniper power plant in Düsseldorf were all reactivated. The demolition plan for the Moorburg Power Plant was suspended (it had been shut down in 2021 and was slated for dismantling). Simultaneously, Germany’s three nuclear power plants continued operating: Emsland in Lower Saxony, Isar 2 in Bavaria, and Neckarwestheim 2 in Baden-Württemberg. Had natural gas supplies not been disrupted, these three nuclear plants would have been required to shut down by the end of 2021. Thanks to coal and nuclear power, Germany barely weathered the 2022 electricity crisis. German media finally dared openly discuss topics once considered entirely taboo: returning to nuclear power and extending coal-fired generation. For the Greens, however, this represented a blow to their core green values. In 2023, German Vice Chancellor and Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock turned their attention again to the Moorburg Power Plant. A trampolining politician and a fairy-tale writer—do they really care about electricity? Does public electricity pricing matter more than their ideological values? Learning from the ‘lesson’ of the 2022 nuclear and coal restarts, the Greens resolved to go all the way—blowing up every non-green power plant.

German power companies and integrators

The German electricity sector ranks among the world’s most advanced markets—particularly in renewable energy and the energy transition. Below are some key players in Germany’s electricity industry, including power utilities, power developers, and new-energy system integrators. ### Top 20 German Power Companies 1. **E.ON** – A major electricity and natural gas company operating across multiple countries. 2. **RWE** – Another large energy company covering power generation, sales, and energy trading. 3. **EnBW (Energie Baden-Württemberg AG)** – Primarily operates in southern Germany, supplying electricity and natural gas. 4. **Vattenfall** – A Swedish state-owned enterprise providing electricity and heat in Germany. 5. **Uniper** – Spun off from E.ON, focusing on energy generation and sales. 6. **LEAG (Lausitz Energie Bergbau AG)** – Mainly engaged in power generation and mining in eastern Germany. 7. **Stadtwerke München (SWM)** – Munich’s municipal utility, providing electricity, natural gas, water, and public transport services. 8. **Innogy** – A former RWE subsidiary focused on renewables, grid infrastructure, and customer solutions. 9. **50Hertz Transmission GmbH** – A transmission system operator. 10. **TenneT TSO GmbH** – Another major transmission system operator. 11. **Amprion GmbH** – Responsible for high- and extra-high-voltage power transmission networks. 12. **TransnetBW GmbH** – A transmission system operator serving Baden-Württemberg. 13. **Stadtwerke Leipzig** – A local utility providing electricity and other public services. 14. **MVV Energie AG** – An energy company headquartered in Mannheim. 15. **Stadtwerke Köln** – Cologne’s municipal utility. 16. **EWE AG** – An energy company supplying electricity, natural gas, and IT services. 17. **Mainova AG** – A major energy supplier in Frankfurt. 18. **Stadtwerke Düsseldorf** – Düsseldorf’s municipal utility. 19. **Avacon AG** – A distributed energy and grid services company. 20. **Stadtwerke Hannover (enercity)** – An energy supplier in Hanover. ### Top 20 Power Developers

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Germany Awards $13 Billion Gas Plant Contracts to Utilities Including LEAG, RWE

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