The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs has decided to postpone the evaluation report concerning the coal phase-out in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) until it can account for scheduled gas power plant tenders.
Under Paragraph 54 of the Coal Power Cessation Act, a review of the coal power phase-out was originally slated for August 15, 2026. A spokesperson for the “Rheinische Post” confirmed that the Federal Ministry for Economics and Energy is currently preparing this evaluation, and the actual drafting process will take additional time.
While the planned transition away from brown coal in NRW is set for 2030, the Ministry was originally expected to present its report on potential consequences by August 15, 2026. The Ministry explained the delay by pointing out that the newly effective Electricity Market Act (StromVKG) and the tenders planned for this year-which are intended to ensure energy security and secure the coal phase-out-must be comprehensively incorporated into the upcoming evaluation.
Consequently, the Federal Ministry of Economics intends to wait for the results of this year’s tenders under the StromVKG before including them in the analysis. This will allow them to conduct an analysis that is as realistic and robust as possible, especially regarding energy security for the period starting in 2031. The StromVKG provides the legal framework for the development of these new gas power plants.
The spokesperson for Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) further noted that the ongoing work on energy security monitoring could also be integrated into the coal phase-out evaluation. The Ministry promised to submit the report as quickly as possible after completing the planned analyses.
