(de-news.net) – Presenting the initiative as a decisive measure for safeguarding Germany’s long-term security of supply, the Federal Government has announced that it had reached a preliminary agreement with the European Commission on the overarching framework for supporting new gas-fired power capacity. The Economics Ministry stated that 12 gigawatts of tenders would be issued during the current year, incorporating both the construction of modern, dispatchable gas plants—expected to enter service by 2031—and the targeted refurbishment or expansion of certain existing installations. Final implementation of the strategy, however, remains subject to the Commission’s required state-aid assessment, which will determine compatibility with EU competition and subsidy rules.
Government officials explained that the new gas plants are intended to function as controllable reserve capacity during periods when renewable electricity generation is insufficient, particularly in extended phases of low solar radiation and weak wind conditions. These so-called “dark doldrums” represent a structural challenge in a power system increasingly dominated by variable renewables. The strategy is therefore positioned as an integral component of Germany’s broader transition timeline, given the complete withdrawal from nuclear energy and the scheduled phase-out of coal-fired generation by 2038. In this context, gas infrastructure is portrayed as a bridging technology that ensures grid reliability while enabling progress toward the national goal of climate neutrality by 2045.
While a formal legislative text must still undergo review and approval at the EU level, the ministry confirmed that it had reached consensus with the Commission on the principal elements of the capacity mechanism. Earlier ambitions to authorize 20 gigawatts of new gas capacity were scaled back during negotiations, with an initial tranche of 12 gigawatts of controllable capacity prioritized. Such capacity comprises a wide spectrum of assets, including flexible gas turbines, large-scale battery storage systems, biogas and hydropower facilities, and various demand-side management resources—ranging from industrial processes capable of temporary load reductions to regulated consumption devices within the power sector.
According to the ministry, 10 gigawatts of this capacity must fulfill long-duration operational criteria, which are most reliably met through gas-fired generation able to produce electricity continuously over extended intervals. These units are required to be operational by 2031, aligning with planning parameters initially introduced under the previous ministerial leadership. The same operational deadline will apply to future tenders scheduled for 2027 and 2029/2030, and the process will remain open to existing plants meeting the designated performance requirements. Furthermore, all new units must be hydrogen-ready and fully decarbonized by 2045, with incentive structures designed to accelerate conversion beginning in 2040—targeting 2 gigawatts of hydrogen-based capacity by 2040 and an additional 2 gigawatts by 2043.
The ministry argued that the initial 12-gigawatt allocation would simultaneously reinforce industrial competitiveness and strengthen long-term security of supply. At the same time, it would serve as the starting point for a broader, technology-neutral capacity market aimed at mobilizing investment in flexible power resources. Through this mechanism, the government expects to balance reliability concerns with emissions-reduction commitments, ensuring that Germany remains on course to meet its climate-protection objectives while maintaining system stability during the energy transition.
