It is a consensus that an energy turn away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energies is necessary and sensible for ecological, economic and social reasons. What is peculiar here is how the German government and companies are nevertheless acting in favour of old energy sources. This is also the case here: Datteln 4 is not a Read more…
One main argument used by proponents of Datteln 4 is that it would replace several old power plants. Datteln 4 would be a contribution to climateprotection and would reduce CO2 emissions, politicians say. But this simple calculation does not work out! Quite on the contrary: a plus of around 40 million tonnes of CO2 would be Read more…
1.5 billion is a number that politicians* often mention. It is too expensive for the state to "buy itself free" from the power station, they say. However, the sum is actually expected to be in the low to medium three-digit million range - if compensations were due at all. Investment does not equal compensation. Over the last 14 years Read more…
In February 2014, the old Datteln units (1, 2 and 3) were closed down. And what happened? Absolutely nothing. Yet six years later, Datteln 4, the power plant that was originally intended to replace these units, is scheduled to go ahead. However, since 2014 there have been no supply gaps, therefore there is nothing to compensate for. In short there is no need for Datteln 4 to Read more…
The history of the Datteln 4 coal-fired power plant block began almost 15 years ago, and a lot has happened during this time: Permits have been granted, expert‘s reports have been written, judgments have been pronounced, there political discussions have taken place and construction stops as well as elections that have influenced the process. In the following we have compiled the most important points and provided original sources or, if Read more…
As hard coal mining in Germany had long since ceased to be profitable, it was discontinued in 2018. Nonetheless, there are still hard coal-fired power plants in Germany. The German industry requires around 44 million tonnes of hard coal every year. Most of this amount comes from Russia and Colombia. The mining conditions there ensure that production in these countries is still profitable and Read more…
Constructing a power plant at a distance of 400m from a residential area is rarely a good idea. Datteln 4 should not have been built in this place since the land-use planning had designated another location for the power plant. Furthermore, the planning has been violating nature conservations laws since its beginning, according to a ruling of the supreme court. This is why Read more…
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