Germany's Steag details return of coal plants to power market

European Energy Exchange AG

21/10/2022 12:03

FRANKFURT, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Germany's Steag gave
details on Friday about the return and operation of 2,500
megawatts (MW) of coal-fired power station capacity to the
wholesale market to help boost energy supplies this winter.
    The extra capacity will help offset sky-high prices amid
concerns about the availability of fuel exports from Russia.
 EL/DE  NG/EU 
    Steag said the 726 megawatt (MW) Bexbach coal-to-power plant
would return to operation from a grid reserve status on Oct. 28,
and the 656 MW Weiher would return on Oct. 31, detailing plans
already foreshadowed on Sept. 27.
    Both sites are in Germany's southwestern Saarland state and
can together supply four million households with power.
    In addition, Steag's 717 MW Bergkamen plant in the Ruhr
region and two more Saarland plants, MKV and HKV at
Voelklingen-Fenne with a joint capacity of 390 MW, will remain
in the market, having previously been earmarked for closure on
Oct. 31.
    Steag said it had informed the federal network regulatory
agency, power transmission grid company Amprion  RWEG.DE  and
the EEX  DB1Gn.DE  power exchange of its intentions.
    "We can make a significant contribution to saving natural
gas in the current crisis and thus contribute to avoiding a real
gas emergency situation," said board chairman Andreas Reichel.
    The total power capacity is equivalent to just under 4% of
German power generation in 2021 and to one third of electricity
generated from natural gas last year, Steag said.
    Steps to ensure coal feedstock have been taken and transport
options, including rail and barge transports, have been
arranged, it added.
    Sector peers Uniper  UN01.DE  and RWE have also resurrected
coal capacity or are planning to do so.
 (Reporting by Vera Eckert
Editing by Mark Potter)
 ((vera.eckert@thomsonreuters.com; +49 30 2201 33654;
@EckertVera;))