Nearly 90% of Germany's coal plants were not profitable last year, and E3G, an independent climate change think tank, points out that the coronavirus crisis has exacerbated the situation as the share of coal power dropped to a record low of 16% in April.
"If renewables are expanded rapidly, it is likely that Germany can and, for economic reasons, must phase out coal earlier," analysts stressed. Otherwise, the government might lose the chance of orchestrating a regulated coal exit which gives planning security to power plant operators, employees and regional states.
Germany has officially set in motion a gradual withdrawal from coal, but key parts of the necessary legislation are still missing
A slowing economy and mild weather in April and May lowered Germany's energy demand significantly in the first quarter of 2020. Recent data AG Energiebilanzen show renewable energy sources accounted for more than half of the electricity fed into Germany's power grid over the full quarter — the first time this has happened.
Renewables energy supply rose 6% in the first quarter of 2020, compared to Q1-2019, while the contribution of oil fell by-3.2%, natural gas by 5.5% and the share of nuclear power plunged by -17%.