German Energy Transition Stalled Over Delayed Kraftwerkssicherheitsgesetz

The German Trade Union Confederation warns that legislative delays threaten energy security and jobs in eastern coal regions as the 2038 coal exit looms.

• The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) has criticized the lack of progress on the Kraftwerkssicherheitsgesetz, which aims to modernize power plants and promote gas-powered facilities.
• Legislative delays are attributed to the collapse of Germany's coalition government, leaving the law's passage uncertain before February's planned elections.
• Eastern energy companies, such as Leag in Lausitz, are awaiting clear legal guidelines to invest in new gas plants that could later transition to hydrogen power.
• The DGB emphasizes that delays jeopardize energy supply, job security, and the timeline for replacing coal plants in regions like Lausitz and Schkopau.
• The proposed law would prioritize renewable energy backups and address regional imbalances, but critics argue it disproportionately favors southern and western Germany over the east.

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