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This article sounds too bad to be true in my ears. For example, Germany is shutting down their coal plants gradually until 2038 (why would they then commission

This article sounds too bad to be true in my ears. For example, Germany is shutting down their coal plants gradually until 2038 (why would they then commission one this year, as stated by the article?). I agree it sounds stupid to shut it down prematurely, and I agree the green movement (at least here in Sweden, and apparently also in France) is many times doing stupid things that actually harm the environment, but this article does not seem to aim to portray the full situation as objectively as possible. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-germany-coal-power-20190126-story.html%3f_amp=true https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.latimes.com/world/europe/la...

morsch 6y ago
> why would they then commission one this year, as stated by the article Unfortunately, that really happened[1]. Commission as in started running, not as in started constructing, which they did in 2007. The usual argument is that a modern coal power plant replaces older ones and more efficient/less polluting. Obviously, it's all very controversial. [1] https://www.dw.com/en/climate-activists-protest-germanys-new-datteln-4-coal-power-plant/a-53632887 https://www.dw.com/en/climate-activists-protest-germanys-new...
- AnthonyMouse 6y ago
  > The usual argument is that a modern coal power plant replaces older ones and more efficient/less polluting. Which is, of course, bullocks even if it's true, because the alternative exists to shut down the older coal fired power plants and replace them with something that isn't coal at all. Like nuclear, or solar. Even natural gas would be better than coal.
anoncake 6y ago
> For example, Germany is shutting down their coal plants gradually until 2038 (why would they then commission one this year, as stated by the article?). Corruption? Stupidity? At any rate, the article is right. https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fde.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FKraftwerk_Datteln%23Neubau_Kraftwerk%28sblock%29_Datteln_4_ab_2007 https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https...
freeflight 6y ago
> why would they then commission one this year, as stated by the article? The answer being that it was originally commissioned decades ago, construction started 2007 and was supposed to be finished in 2011, its purpose is to replace three older blocks from the 60s which were put offline in 2014 [0]. Putting 3 old blocks offline to replace them with one modern block looks like a rather good progress. Tho, those small steps just doen't sit well with the current popular narrative of "Let's end all fossil fuel use instantly and replace it with fission reactors everywhere!". As if changes and projects like that wouldn't take decades to retool whole industries and infrastructure. [0] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraftwerk_Datteln https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraftwerk_Datteln
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
steeve 6y ago
Unfortunately it is all true, which is why people here in France are getting pissed and protesting it. See https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-nuclear-protest/pro-nuclear-energy-protesters-rally-against-greenpeace-in-paris-idUSKBN2402QN https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-nuclear-protest/pr...

morsch 6y ago

> why would they then commission one this year, as stated by the article Unfortunately, that really happened[1]. Commission as in started running, not as in started constructing, which they did in 2007. The usual argument is that a modern coal power plant replaces older ones and more efficient/less polluting. Obviously, it's all very controversial. [1] https://www.dw.com/en/climate-activists-protest-germanys-new-datteln-4-coal-power-plant/a-53632887 https://www.dw.com/en/climate-activists-protest-germanys-new...

AnthonyMouse 6y ago
> The usual argument is that a modern coal power plant replaces older ones and more efficient/less polluting. Which is, of course, bullocks even if it's true, because the alternative exists to shut down the older coal fired power plants and replace them with something that isn't coal at all. Like nuclear, or solar. Even natural gas would be better than coal.

anoncake 6y ago

> For example, Germany is shutting down their coal plants gradually until 2038 (why would they then commission one this year, as stated by the article?). Corruption? Stupidity? At any rate, the article is right. https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fde.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FKraftwerk_Datteln%23Neubau_Kraftwerk%28sblock%29_Datteln_4_ab_2007 https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https...

freeflight 6y ago

> why would they then commission one this year, as stated by the article? The answer being that it was originally commissioned decades ago, construction started 2007 and was supposed to be finished in 2011, its purpose is to replace three older blocks from the 60s which were put offline in 2014 [0]. Putting 3 old blocks offline to replace them with one modern block looks like a rather good progress. Tho, those small steps just doen't sit well with the current popular narrative of "Let's end all fossil fuel use instantly and replace it with fission reactors everywhere!". As if changes and projects like that wouldn't take decades to retool whole industries and infrastructure. [0] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraftwerk_Datteln https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraftwerk_Datteln

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

steeve 6y ago

Unfortunately it is all true, which is why people here in France are getting pissed and protesting it. See https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-nuclear-protest/pro-nuclear-energy-protesters-rally-against-greenpeace-in-paris-idUSKBN2402QN https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-nuclear-protest/pr...