Analysis of Germany's Experience with Coal Power Phase-out Mechanism and Power Supply Safeguarding

doi:10.11930/j.issn.1004-9649.202504028

Abstract

Abstract:

With the deepening of Germany's energy transition, accelerating the phase-out of coal power and promoting the integration of a high proportion of renewable energy have become key strategies. The smooth advancement of Germany's coal power phase-out can be attributed to a broad societal consensus on coal phase-out and the government's flexible use of a combination of market mechanisms and administrative directives. In response to the dual challenges of phasing out coal power and the continuous increase in renewable energy penetration, Germany has successfully maintained a high level of security and stability in its power system by continuously optimizing feed-in tariff policies for renewable energy, leveraging balancing groups, enhancing cross-border grid interconnections, and strengthening the supporting role of conventional power sources. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of Germany's coal power phase-out mechanism and its measures to ensure power supply security, summarizes relevant experiences and lessons, and explores the implications of Germany's practices for China. The aim is to offer valuable insights for the construction of a new power system in China under the carbon neutrality goal.

Key words: coal power, renewable energy, auction mechanism, power system, power supply safeguarding

WU Di, WANG Zijing, WEN Ling, YU Lujia, YANG Lei, KANG Junjie. Analysis of Germany's Experience with Coal Power Phase-out Mechanism and Power Supply Safeguarding[J]. Electric Power, 2025, 58(10): 1-13.

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URL: https://www.electricpower.com.cn/EN/10.11930/j.issn.1004-9649.202504028

https://www.electricpower.com.cn/EN/Y2025/V58/I10/1

Figures/Tables 11

Fig.1 The composition of members of Germany Coal Commission

Table 1 Overview of German coal exit auction rule

轮次	竞拍截止日期	目标容量/MW	招标限价/ (€·kW^–1)	F_gird/ (€·kW^–1)	是否允许南部煤电厂参与	煤电厂停运时间
一	2020/9/1	4000	165	—	否	2021年1月
二	2021/1/4	1500	155	119	是	2021年12月
三	2021/4/30	2481	155	106	是	2022年10月
四	2021/10/1	433	116	93	是	2023年5月
五	2022/3/1	1223	107	85	是	2024年5月
六	2022/8/1	699	98	72	是	2025年4月
七	2023/6/1	542	89	54	是	2026年3月

Fig.2 Results of the coal power plant exit auction in Germany

Fig.3 Changes in the installed capacity of lignite and hard coal in Germany

Fig.4 The change in the levelized cost of electricity for different power sources in Germany

Fig.5 Changes in the share of electricity generation in Germany

Fig.6 Changes in the share of renewable energy generation and average power outage duration in Germany

Table 2 Feed-in tariff for PV projects of 750 kW and below under EEG 2023

项目容量/kW	基准上网电价/ (€^–2·(kW·h)^–1)	基础上网电价较EEG 2021增加/ (€^–2·(kW·h)^–1)	全额上网补贴/ (€^–2·(kW·h)^–1)	总计上网电价/ (€^–2·(kW·h)^–1)
(0,10]	8.6	1.67	4.8	13.4
(10,40]	7.5	0.65	3.8	11.3
(40,100]	6.2	0.84	5.1	11.3
(100,300]	6.2	0.84	3.2	9.4
(300,750]	6.2	0.84	—	6.2

Fig.7 The electricity import and export situation of Germany in 2024 (negative indicates imports, and positive indicates exports)

Fig.8 Germany's electricity supply and demand curves on August 23, 2024. (negative indicates imports, and positive indicates exports)

Fig.9 Installed capacity of Germany's security reserve mechanism in 2024

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