Renewables, power-to-x and battery production offer future prospect for coal regions – study

Large-scale renewable power production and the development of storage technology, both with power-to-x systems and batteries, can provide viable economic prospects for Germany’s coal mining regions as the fossil fuel is gradually phased out, a study commissioned by the economy ministry (BMWi) has found. “An increased expansion of solar and wind power at the open pit mines, especially in a combined way as large hybrid plants, offers outstanding opportunities,” says the study, conducted by companies specialised in law, renewable energy, economic research and consulting. “Hybrid plants can take over the grid capacity vacated in the coal districts and they can be constructed in line with the gradual phase-out of coal power.”

Find the study in German here.

See the CLEW article Taskforce agrees on post-coal strategy for German mining regions for more information.