Coal Increases in Germany as Gas Wanes in First Three Quarters

Output from gas-fired power plants in Germany fell by 18% in the first nine months of 2013 compared to the same period of last year, says a report by Platts on data collected by the think tank Fraunhofer Institute (ISE). 

The 6.5 TWh decrease is more than offset by the coal plants production increase (+8.4 TWh).

Coal-fired power plants take once more the lion share, accounting for 45% of the generation mix. Renewables are the second source with 22%, followed by nuclear with 16%. Gas-fired plants produce 11% of the German electricity.

The trends in the German market are related to a price plunge of carbon. On the other hand, gas prices remained nearly flat in the period.