Annual Report 2010 - Verein der Kohlenimporteure eV

advantage of Germany’s export trade and industry, and
of international climate protection. One thing is clear:
we must not ignore the global dimension of climate
protection. Rising world population and rising energy
consumption means that emerging and developing
countries will not abandon fossil sources of energy in the
foreseeable future.
CCS technology is therefore necessary in order to
permanently store several billion tonnes of CO 2 and,
in the future, to enable the use of CO 2 in industrial
processes. With our agreement, we give German industry
the chance to develop this key technology rapidly and to
globally benefit from new export opportunities.”
Until recently, the debate concerned what scope there
was for the storage of carbon dioxide on lands. The
way became free for the Cabinet, after the Ministry for
Economic Affairs and the Ministry for the Environment,
on the issue of this so-called “Country clause”. With this,
the countries can determine, in accordance with state law,
if testing and demonstration of permanent storage is to
be permitted only in certain areas or not to be permitted
in certain areas. The countries are however bound by
certain technical criteria. When defining areas, energy-
and industrial-sector options for the use of potential
storage sites, the geological characteristics of the areas
and other public interests must be evaluated. The bill is
generally disappointing and far behind the intent of the
EU directive.
CO 2 Emissions from Hard Coal Consumption Up
Approximately 24 million tonnes in 2010
The strong increase in hard coal consumption in
electricity and steel production caused an increase
in energy-related CO 2 emissions in 2010 of about 18
million tonnes for power generation and 6 million
tonnes for steel production.
Coal-Fired Power Generation – Eight Installations
Totalling 8,400 MW Under Construction
The completion of some of the eight coal-fired plants
under construction is late due to major quality defects,
particularly with the boilers, and also partly for legal
reasons. Nearly all permits have been challenged. The
construction of the E.ON Datteln 4 power plant, which
is 80% complete, is threatened after its construction
permit was found to be void and by the political change
in North Rhine-Westphalia to a “red-green” coalition.
on the need to build highly efficient coal-fired power
plants and to switch off old blocks only seem to receive
lip-service. Shrinking political and public acceptance,
motivated not only by special interests but also by
the energy sector and Germany’s legal and economic
framework, concerning in particular the lifetime
extension of nuclear power plants, has resulted in some
projects being cancelled or postponed. This is the case
for the planned E.ON Staudinger 6, after the city of
Hanau announced that it had challenged the granting
coal project in Brunsbüttel. Other projects were also
withdrawn.
This results in a delay to the reduction of CO 2 emissions
from the replacement of older plants with new, highly
efficient coal-fired power plants with efficiencies of
45%, some with combined heat and power.
59