German law to exit coal by 2038 to be in place by 2020

Germany's plans to exit coal powered electricity by 2038 is to be made a law by early 2020, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier said on Wednesday (22nd May).

The 44-page plan that was approved by the German cabinet includes a phase-out for coal-fired power plants as outlined by the coal exit commission and an adjusted expansion roadmap for renewable energy sources. The legislation seeks to formalise recommendations made in January by a government-appointment task force to phase out coal by 2038, with the first wave of closures – around 7 GW – to commence early next decade. The gov...